Spatial Planning Manager

National Highways; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transport infrastructure organization is looking for a Spatial Planning Manager to shape development plans across the South East. This hybrid role involves leading a team, managing strategic initiatives in spatial planning, and ensuring local plans align with the road network. The ideal candidate has chartered status or equivalent experience, strong leadership skills, and knowledge of the planning system. The organization values diversity and encourages applicants from all backgrounds.

Benefits

Diverse work environment

Hybrid work arrangements

Qualifications

• Chartered status in Transport or Town Planning, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of Spatial Planning system duties and obligations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing teams.

Responsibilities

• Shape future development in spatial planning across the South East.
• Lead statutory and regulatory duties, managing resources effectively.
• Manage specialist spatial planning consultancy contract for best value.
• Inspire and lead a skilled team of Spatial Planners.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Spatial Planning Knowledge

Education

Chartered Transport or Town Planner

Job description

About the job

Ready to shape the future of planning and transport on one of the world's most advanced road networks? As a Spatial Planning Manager at National Highways, you'll lead a team that ensures local development plans and transport strategies work seamlessly with the Strategic Road Network.

Whether your background is in town planning, transport planning, development management or consultancy, this is your chance to influence big decisions, drive continuous improvement, and leave a positive legacy for generations to come.

Based at one of our South East offices (Maidstone, Basingstoke or Guildford) on a hybrid basis, you'll also spend plenty of time out and about – meeting external stakeholders, representing National Highways across the region, and occasionally travelling to our Head Office in Birmingham to collaborate and share best practice.

You will

• Shape future development by managing National Highways' role in the spatial planning system across the South East, making sure local authority and stakeholder plans consider the strategic road network.
• Be the go‑to expert for the region, leading on statutory and regulatory duties while creating efficient processes and managing resources across both in‑house teams and external consultants.
• Drive collaboration by managing our specialist spatial planning consultancy contract and ensuring we get the best value and expertise to support our ambitions.
• Lead and inspire a talented team of Spatial Planners and Assistant Spatial Planners, fostering a culture of high performance, recognising and developing potential, and promoting best practice in people management.

About you

• Chartered Transport or Town Planner, or demonstrates equivalent relevant experience.
• Awareness and knowledge of the Spatial Planning system in England and the duties and obligations of the parties involved.
• Proven track record in a leadership role and significant experience in managing a team.
• Experienced in developing and delivering continuous improvement initiatives and sharing best practice in areas of varied transport and planning expertise.
• A clear communicator with proven negotiating and influencing skills, able to direct and motivate a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and customers.

About us

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.

Operations is at the heart of keeping the strategic road network moving and ensuring our customers get the best possible experience when using our roads.

We address over 39 000 customer enquiries every month, plan and deliver all maintenance activities on the network, drive efficiencies and improvements across our systems and roads, and respond to incidents across 4 500 miles of motorways and major A‑roads that we manage. All to make sure National Highways customers have safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.