Public Transport Planner

slihrms; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

slihrms is seeking a senior public transport planning professional to help deliver bus and rail strategies across the UK. You will work in multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative plans, lead studies, and advise on policy and investment cases that support greener, more inclusive mobility.

The role emphasizes collaboration with clients, stakeholders and internal teams, including BSIP/EP experience, and a track record of delivering robust business cases in national settings.

Qualifications

• UK government bus policy.
• Strong understanding of political and economic factors influencing transport planning, including public transport reform, bus franchising, devolution and decarbonisation.
• Sound technical understanding of transport planning principles and appraisal techniques.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills, with experience engaging internal teams, clients, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead public transport studies, such as bus and rail route feasibility studies, overseeing scheme identification, scenario scoping, operations planning and costing.
• Shape strategy and policy by applying knowledge of changes in public transport policy, funding, governance and delivery.
• Develop investment cases for public transport infrastructure, such as priority measures, interchanges, mobility hubs and Park & Ride facilities.
• Collaborate with active travel, Net Zero and development planning colleagues to develop policies, strategies and investment cases for corridor schemes.
• Support growth and client relationships by engaging with clients at all levels, including elected members.

Skills

Public transport planning

BSIP/EP knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Urban Planning or related

Tools

Transport modelling software

Job description

Overview

With public transport reform, bus franchising, devolution and decarbonization reshaping the sector, this is an important moment to join a growing team helping clients respond to rapidly changing policy, funding and delivery challenges. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of public transport across the UK - from bus reform and BRT corridors to mobility hubs, interchanges, regeneration schemes and investment cases that support better, greener and more inclusive places across the UK. Using the latest modelling tools and appraisal techniques to assess bus, rail, and road interventions alongside active travel and public realm initiatives, our public transport specialists work with local and national government bodies, private sector clients, and support on international projects.

The successful candidate will work within a collaborative team, contributing to project delivery, business development, and activities including scheme appraisal, business case development, stakeholder engagement, and strategy development. We will consider candidates with location preferences across any of our UK network of offices, working alongside our growing team of public transport specialists based in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, London (Victoria) and York, or our other Movement & Place hubs in Belfast, Cambridge, Edinburgh or Manchester.

Your role

We are looking for an individual who wishes to contribute to a high performing, dynamic team that works seamlessly within our wider national Movement & Place (Transport Planning) business.

Collaborating with specialists from across our business as part of multi-disciplinary teams, you'll provide expert input to support our clients on the development of innovative bus and rail plans and strategies at local, regional and national scales.

As one of our core public transport experts, you will: Lead public transport studies, such as bus and BRT route feasibility studies, overseeing scheme identification, scenario scoping, operations planning and costing, demand and revenue forecasting, service planning and business case development, using a variety of standard and innovative techniques and datasets.

Shape strategy and policy - your knowledge and understanding of changes in public transport policy, funding, governance and delivery will feed through to technical workstreams across our project portfolio.

Help our clients achieve their commitments and ambitions - experience with BSIPs and EPs will support our delivery of these services to our clients.

Develop investment cases, supporting the planning and development of new public transport infrastructure, such as priority measures, interchanges, mobility hubs and Park & Ride facilities.

Collaborate across disciplines - you will work closely with active travel, Net Zero and development planning colleagues to develop policies, strategies and investment cases for corridor schemes and regeneration initiatives, and feed into their projects to provide a bus perspective.

Support growth and client relationships, joining a team with a well-balanced blend of skills focused on meeting and exceeding our clients' needs. You will be comfortable engaging with clients directly at all levels, including elected members.

About you

You may have helped shape a BSIP, supported a franchising assessment, redesigned a bus network or developed investment cases for public transport improvements. Above all, you'll be passionate about improving public transport outcomes. We are looking for an enthusiastic transport professional with senior experience to add further value and support our ambitious growth agenda. You should be flexible, self-motivated, and able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and technical experience commensurate with your level of experience in areas such as:

Essential experience

• UK government bus policy.
• A strong understanding of the political and economic factors influencing transport planning, including public transport reform, bus franchising, devolution and decarbonisation.
• Sound technical understanding of transport planning principles and appraisal techniques.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills, with experience engaging internal teams, clients, and stakeholders.

Desirable experience

• Transport strategies and policy development by local transport authorities, preferably public transport focused.
• Feasibility studies and accessibility analysis, including bus network planning and use of software tools.
• Use and analysis of national, regional and local datasets.
• Multi-modal transport planning and scheme development, including the use of industry-focused software.
• Stakeholder relations, public engagement and strategy development.
• Scheme appraisal and business case preparation.
• Knowledge of the current proposals around UK rail industry reform.
• Awareness of new/emerging technologies and their potential role in an integrated transport system.

Behaviours and mindset

Strong analytical, numeracy, and pro