Principal Transport Planner - Bus/ Public Transport Planning, Birmingham

Jacobs; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension (up to 10%)

23 days annual leave (plus holidays)

Private medical insurance

Income protection

Employee assistance programme

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible and hybrid working

Global volunteering

Job summary

Jacobs in Birmingham seeks Senior/Principal Transport Planners to lead bus and public transport planning projects, shaping strategies, networks and business cases. The role offers hybrid working, collaboration with Local Authorities and wider UK client base.

Bring expertise in bus reform, Enhanced Partnerships and franchising to deliver meaningful improvements for communities. You’ll mentor colleagues, manage client relationships and contribute to industry-leading public transport programmes.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering, maths, geography or economics or equivalent
• Experience in bus planning, public transport planning or transport strategy
• Experience delivering or supporting business cases, strategies and feasibility studies
• Understanding of bus reform, franchising and Enhanced Partnerships
• Strong analytical, report writing and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to manage projects and client relationships

Responsibilities

• Lead workstreams on strategic public transport planning projects, managing technical delivery and mentoring junior colleagues
• Engage with clients and stakeholders, shape solutions, influence decisions and deliver lasting outcomes
• Support business development and grow Jacobs' presence across the Midlands and wider UK and international public transport market

Skills

Bus Planning

Public Transport Planning

Transport Strategy

Bus Reform

Franchising

Enhanced Partnerships

Analytical skills

Report writing

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Client relationships

Education

Degree in engineering, maths, geography or economics

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Work That Shapes How People Travel

At Jacobs, we're helping shape the future of transport by creating safer streets, stronger communities and better-connected places. As our Cities & Places business continues to grow across the Midlands, we're looking for Senior and Principal Transport Planners to join our established Birmingham team. This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the UK's leading bus and public transport planning teams, working on projects that directly influence how people travel, access jobs and services, and connect with their communities. You'll become part of a thriving team of more than 60 transport planners and engineers, delivering innovative transport solutions for clients across the UK and beyond.

Bring Your Public Transport Expertise and be Part of Major Public Transport Programmes

For those passionate about buses and public transport, this role offers the chance to work on some of the most significant and high-profile projects in the sector. Our work spans bus reform programmes, Enhanced Partnerships, franchising assessments, network reviews, bus operations, business case development, funding bids, Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) and wider public transport strategy. Through our strong client relationships and the breadth of opportunities available across Jacobs, you'll have the opportunity to help shape the future of local transport and deliver meaningful change for communities across the UK. We're keen to hear from people with experience in public transport and bus planning. You may currently work in consultancy, for a bus operator, a local authority, combined authority or another transport organisation. Whatever your background, if you understand bus service planning, network design, patronage and performance analysis, service change processes, operational delivery and the wider policy environment, we'd love to hear from you. You'll find plenty of opportunities to apply and further develop that expertise within a highly regarded and growing transport planning team.

Alongside our public transport work, you'll support a broad range of transport planning projects, including transport strategies, masterplans and business cases. You'll work closely with Local Authorities, Combined Authorities, Sub-National Transport Bodies and private-sector clients, helping to solve complex public transport challenges and deliver practical, future-focused solutions.

Lead Projects and Develop People

As a Senior or Principal member of the team, you'll play a key role in both project delivery and team development. You'll lead workstreams on strategic public transport planning projects, manage technical delivery, mentor and support junior colleagues, and help maintain the high standards our clients expect. You'll engage directly with clients and stakeholders, working alongside multidisciplinary teams to shape solutions, influence decision-making and deliver lasting outcomes.

Help Grow the Business

There will also be opportunities to contribute to business development, strengthen existing client relationships and help grow Jacobs' presence across the Midlands and wider UK and International public transport market. Whether your ambition is to deepen your technical expertise, develop your leadership skills or become a recognised specialist within the public transport sector, you'll be supported by experienced colleagues and clear progression opportunities.

Joining Jacobs means working alongside industry-leading public transport specialists who share a genuine passion for improving bus services, developing better transport networks and delivering projects that make a real difference. With access to a diverse range of work, from local network improvements through to nationally significant transport programmes, you'll have the opportunity to build a rewarding career while helping clients tackle some of the sector's most important challenges.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham, with an expectation of around three days per week in the office, offering the chance to play a central role in shaping the future of bus and public transport across the UK.

Here's what you'll need

• A degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, which includes Engineering, Mathematics, Geography or Economics, although we’ll consider candidates from other academic backgrounds
• Experience in Bus Planning, Public Transport Planning or Transport Strategy.
• Experience in delivering or supporting on business cases, strategies and feasibility studies.
• Understanding of bus reform, franchising and Enhanced Partnerships.
• Strong analytical, report writing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage projects and client relationships.

It would be desirable to have

• BSIP, Enhanced Partnership or franchising experience.
• Bus operations, network planning or timetable development experience.
• Experience working with local or combined authorities or bus operators.
• Professional accreditation (TPS, CIHT, CILT or similar)

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based progression opportunities
• Up to 10% employer pension contribution
• 24 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Private medical insurance
• Income protection insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional membership support
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Global giving and volunteering programmes

Ready to shape the future of transport? Join us in creating smarter, more sustainable mobility solutions that transform communities and improve lives.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.