Team Manager – Highways Planning Liaison

Environment Journal; Leicester Forest East; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Generous pension scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Employee wellbeing support

Annual leave benefits

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council is seeking an experienced transport planning professional to lead our Highway Planning Liaison Team in Matlock, Derbyshire. You will oversee the statutory highway consultee function, guiding expert advice on planning applications from housing developments to major infrastructure schemes across Derbyshire.

You will manage a busy team, shape development impacts on highway safety and sustainable travel, and drive performance improvements while collaborating with planning

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in highway development management and transport planning, including leading a professional technical team.
• Comprehensive knowledge of statutory planning systems, highway and planning legislation, and policy impacts of development.
• Experience interpreting transport evidence and producing clear, authoritative reports.
• Experience representing an organisation at planning committees, appeals or inquiries.
• Strong leadership, resource management and performance improvement skills.
• Excellent negotiation and partnership abilities with developers and planning authorities.
• Relevant degree or professional commitment to transport planning/hy highways.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Highway Planning Liaison Team and oversee the council's statutory highway consultee function.
• Provide expert advice on planning applications from housing to major infrastructure.
• Manage service performance, resources and continuous improvement.
• Represent the Council in professional and stakeholder discussions and support appeals.

Skills

Highway planning

Leadership

Planning policy

Stakeholder engagement

Transport evidence

Education

Transport planning degree

Job description

Job Details

Salary: Grade 14 £56,678 to £62,983 per annum

Expires: 22/11/2026

Location: Matlock, Derbyshire

Job Type: Full Time

We're looking for an experienced transport planning professional to lead our Highway Planning Liaison Team. This is a varied and influential role overseeing the County Council's statutory highway consultee function, where you'll lead a team of specialist officers, providing expert advice on planning applications ranging from housing developments to major infrastructure schemes across Derbyshire.

As part of a busy and dynamic service, the team provides advice on over 4,500 planning applications and pre-application consultations annually, playing a key role in shaping future development and infrastructure.

Working closely with local planning authorities, developers, elected members and colleagues across the council, you'll help ensure new development addresses highway safety, accessibility, sustainable travel and impacts on the local transport network.

You’ll also manage service performance, resources, and support continuous improvement, and promote the quality and consistency of the team's advice. The role includes providing expert guidance on complex and high profile proposals, supporting planning appeals and inquiries, and representing the Council in professional and stakeholder discussions.

What We're Looking For

• Substantial experience in highway development management, transport planning, including managing or leading a professional technical team.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the statutory planning system, relevant highway and planning legislation, national and local policy, and the transport implications of new development.
• Significant experience of assessing complex development proposals, interpreting technical transport evidence and preparing clear, authoritative professional advice and reports.
• Experience of representing an organisation at planning committees, appeals, public inquiries or other formal proceedings, with the ability to communicate and defend technical advice.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with demonstrable experience of managing resources, competing priorities, service performance and delivering measurable improvements.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and partnership working skills, including experience of engaging with developers, planning authorities, elected members and senior stakeholders.
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in transport planning, civil engineering, highways or a related discipline, alongside membership of, or commitment to professional development through, an appropriate professional institution.

What We Can Offer

• A senior leadership role with the opportunity to influence development across one of England's most diverse counties.
• Interesting and varied projects, from strategic housing developments to major infrastructure schemes.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Generous local government pension scheme.
• A comprehensive benefits package including annual leave, learning and development opportunities, and employee wellbeing support.

If you're passionate about transport planning, enjoy working in a collaborative environment and are looking for an opportunity to influence major developments across Derbyshire, we'd love to hear from you!

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Oliver Meek - [e-mail]

Closing Date: Midnight on Sunday 22nd November 2026

Provisional Interview Date: Week Commencing 30th November 2026

Company: Derbyshire County Council

Salary: Grade 14 £56,678 to £62,983 per annum

Location: Matlock, Derbyshire

Sector: Highways

Sector: Highways Maintenance

Sector: Traffic Management

Job Role: Manager

Job Role: Team Leader