Principal Transport Planner

Vertical Recruitment Limited; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy is seeking a Principal Transport Planner to join their Nottingham team. This senior role offers competitive salary and benefits, hybrid working, and a chance to shape a transport planning team. The ideal candidate will have over 12 years of experience in UK transport planning, a strong project delivery background, and effective client management skills. You will lead transport planning projects, manage client interactions, and drive business development efforts while ensuring quality technical outputs.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Hybrid working

Flexible holiday allowance

Opportunities for team leadership

Exposure to complex projects

Qualifications

• 12+ years' experience within UK transport planning or consultancy.
• Proven track record in project delivery and client management.
• Experience acting as an expert witness at planning appeals.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver transport planning commissions across various sectors.
• Manage multiple projects as the primary client contact.
• Contribute to business development and client relationships.

Skills

Client management

Project delivery

Transport policy understanding

Technical report writing

Team leadership

Education

Relevant professional membership (CIHT, TPS, IHE)

Tools

AutoCAD

Junctions 10

VISSIM

ArcGIS

Job description

Overview

Principal Transport Planner — £55,000 - £70,000 | Nottingham (Hybrid)

The Opportunity

A well-established, multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy is seeking a Principal Transport Planner to take a leading role in the growth and development of its Nottingham transport planning capability.

This is a senior position offering genuine influence — technically, commercially and strategically. The successful candidate will play a key part in expanding the transport planning offering, managing complex projects, developing client relationships and helping shape the future direction of the team.

The Role

• Lead and deliver transport planning commissions across a wide range of development sectors
• Act as a technical authority on transport strategy, policy and development-led transport solutions
• Prepare, review and sign off Transport Assessments, Statements, Notes and Travel Plans
• Provide expert input into planning applications, appeals and examinations where required
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, acting as the primary client contact
• Contribute to business development, work-winning and long-term client relationships
• Support and help grow a transport planning team, including mentoring and line management
• Collaborate closely with other disciplines to deliver integrated, multi-disciplinary solutions

About You

• 12+ years' experience within UK transport planning or consultancy
• A proven track record in project delivery, client management and business development
• Strong understanding of local and national transport policy and guidance
• Experience acting as an expert witness at planning appeals, inquiries or examinations
• Advanced report-writing skills with a high standard of technical accuracy and presentation
• Membership of a relevant professional body (CIHT, TPS, IHE or similar), ideally chartered
• Demonstrable knowledge of sustainable and active travel principles and emerging best practice

From a technical standpoint, you'll also bring experience with:

• DfT WebTAG guidance and appraisal frameworks
• Junction capacity modelling using Junctions 10, LinSig, Quickgreen
• Strategic and microsimulation modelling tools such as VISSIM or PARAMICS
• Use of TRICS, TEMPro and related datasets
• Preliminary highway design using AutoCAD and relevant design standards
• GIS platforms such as QGIS, ArcGIS, MapInfo, Podaris or similar

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working and flexible holiday allowance
• A senior leadership role with autonomy and influence
• The opportunity to establish and grow a transport planning team in Nottingham
• Exposure to high-profile, complex and technically interesting projects
• Clear long-term progression within a stable, respected consultancy

This role offers a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership position where you can shape a regional transport planning team, influence project outcomes, and build a lasting professional legacy within the business