Principal Transport Planner - Development Management (UK Wide)

Jacobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Holiday entitlement 24 days (+10 days买

Medical insurance

Income protection

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal or Associate Director Transport Planner with experience in Highways Development Management to join our Transport Planning & Mobility Solutions team in the UK.

In this Development Management-focused role, you’ll lead transport advice to public sector clients, review planning applications, and help shape developments while mentoring colleagues and growing client relationships.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Transport Planning or a related discipline (e.g. Civil Engineering, Geography, Urban Planning).
• Proven Highways Development Management experience within transport planning, including acting on behalf of Highway Authorities, reviewing planning applications, and applying policy with sound, balanced judgement.
• Strong technical capability, including reviewing transport assessments, analysing data, and providing clear, practical recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the provision of transport advice to public sector clients—primarily in the planning context.
• Review planning applications and ensure developments are safe, policy-compliant, and deliverable.
• Support development of junior team members and maintain strong client relationships.
• Engage with planners, developers and stakeholders to integrate transport considerations into development decisions.

Skills

Transport planning

Highways development management

Policy review

Education

Degree in Transport Planning or related discipline

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

Transport Planning & Mobility Solutions at Jacobs is one of the leading teams in the UK and Ireland, with a strong pipeline of work, a diverse client base, and opportunities to support major projects both locally and internationally.

And due to those growing opportunities, we are now looking for a Principal or Associate Director Transport Planner with experience in Highways Development Management to join our team in Birmingham or Bristol.

This will be a Development Management-focused role within transport planning where you’ll act on behalf of local and national highway authorities, leading and supporting the provision of transport advice to public sector clients—primarily in the context of the planning system.

You’ll play a key role in providing transport advice and reviewing and responding to planning applications, ensuring developments are safe, policy-compliant, and deliverable. Your ability to work independently, apply sound judgement, and communicate technical advice clearly will be critical, particularly within a busy team environment where your input will be valued from day one.

Beyond project delivery, you’ll support the development of junior team members, helping build capability within a specialist area where experience is in high demand.

You’ll also contribute to maintaining strong relationships with local authority clients and supporting the continued growth of the team.

The role offers exposure to a broad range of schemes - from local developments through to projects affecting the strategic road network. You’ll engage with planners, developers, and other stakeholders, challenge proposals where needed, and ensure that transport considerations are properly integrated into development decisions.

In return, you’ll be part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment that encourages knowledge sharing and continuous development. You’ll have the opportunity to further strengthen your expertise in Development Management, contribute to meaningful projects, and play a visible role in shaping how places grow and function.

If you enjoy taking ownership, influencing planning decisions, and seeing the tangible impact of your work on real developments, this role could be great!

Here’s what you’ll need

• Degree qualified in Transport Planning or a related discipline (e.g. Civil Engineering, Geography, Urban Planning).
• Proven Highways Development Management experience within transport planning, including acting on behalf of Highway Authorities, reviewing planning applications, and applying policy with sound, balanced judgement.
• Strong technical capability, including reviewing transport assessments, analysing data, and providing clear, practical recommendations.

At Jacobs, you’ll find more than just a job. You’ll discover

A global network of expertise and opportunity

A culture founded on safety, integrity, inclusion, and belonging /working arrangements that support your well-being and potential to make a real-world impact through our global giving and volunteering programs

Up to 10% pension

24 days (+10 days bought) holidays

Free medical and income protection insurance and many more!

Ready to shape the future of transport and join us 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.