Team Manager - Highways Planning Liaison

Derbyshire County Council; Matlock; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Employee wellbeing support

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council is seeking an experienced transport planning professional to lead the Highway Planning Liaison Team and oversee the council's statutory highway consultee function. You will provide expert advice on planning applications from housing to major infrastructure, shaping development and the transport network across Derbyshire.

You will manage a specialist team, drive service performance, engage with planning authorities and developers, and represent the council at committees

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in highway development management and transport planning.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the statutory planning system, highway and planning legislation, and relevant policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Highway Planning Liaison Team and manage resources and performance.
• Provide expert advice on planning applications, including housing developments and major infrastructure schemes.
• Represent the council in planning committees, appeals and inquiries, defending technical advice.

Skills

Highway development management

Transport planning

Team leadership

Planning policy knowledge

Proposal assessment

Public speaking & representation

Stakeholder engagement

Professional development commitment

Education

Degree in transport planning, civil engineering, highways or related

Job description

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