Technical Lead, Transport Modelling

Oxfordshire County Council; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Learning and development

LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme)

Copilot / productivity tools access

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Oxfordshire County Council is seeking a Technical Lead, Transport Modelling to drive the development and application of transport modelling across Oxfordshire. You will lead the council's suite of models and provide expert advice to inform infrastructure planning, Local Plans and funding bids.

You will collaborate with planning, transport, engineering and policy teams, manage consultancy partnerships, and help shape growth through robust modelling evidence and strategic analysis.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in transport modelling and data-led decision-making.
• Ability to lead complex projects and manage consultancy contracts.
• Strong communication skills to present evidence to senior officers and elected members.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of Oxfordshire's transport modelling capability.
• Provide expert advice on modelling methodologies, data analysis, forecasting, and scenario testing.
• Manage modelling programmes, software, data and consultancy support.
• Collaborate with partners to provide modelling evidence for Local Plans and funding bids.
• Supervise and mentor Data Analysts and build modelling capability.

Skills

Transport modelling

Data analysis

Forecasting

Modelling methodologies

Mentoring / leadership

Education

Degree in transport planning, engineering, mathematics or related

Tools

Transport modelling software

Job description

At Oxfordshire County Council, our Place Shaping service helps shape the future of Oxfordshire. Working across planning, infrastructure, transport, housing, environment and economic development, we support sustainable growth and help create thriving communities.

The Strategic Planning and Infrastructure team works with partners across Oxfordshire and the wider region to develop the evidence, policies and priorities that underpin future growth. We play a key role in shaping places, supporting infrastructure investment and ensuring communities have the homes, services and opportunities they need to thrive.

About the role

We are looking for a Technical Lead, Transport Modelling to lead the development and application of transport modelling across Oxfordshire.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the evidence that underpins transport investment, infrastructure planning and growth across the county. You'll play a key role in developing and managing Oxfordshire's suite of transport models, ensuring robust analysis and high-quality evidence is available to support strategic decision-making, policy development and future transport priorities.

Working closely with colleagues across planning, transport, engineering and policy, you'll provide expert technical advice on modelling methodologies, data analysis and scenario testing. You'll also work with external consultants, regional partners and government organisations, helping to ensure modelling evidence supports major programmes, funding bids, Local Plans and the Oxfordshire Spatial Development Strategy.

As the council's technical expert for transport modelling, you'll influence decisions at a strategic level and help shape how Oxfordshire plans for future growth and transport investment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development, management and continuous improvement of Oxfordshire's transport modelling capability, including the council's suite of strategic and local transport models.
• Providing expert technical advice on modelling methodologies, data analysis, forecasting and scenario testing to support transport policies, investment priorities and future growth.
• Managing modelling programmes, software, data and consultancy support, ensuring high-quality outputs that meet technical standards and organisational objectives.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, regional partners and external stakeholders to provide modelling evidence for Local Plans, the Spatial Development Strategy, business cases and funding bids.
• Supervising and mentoring Data Analysts and supporting the development of modelling knowledge and capability across the wider transport planning function.

About you

You will be a highly analytical and technically skilled professional with significant experience in transport modelling and data-led decision-making. Confident working with complex datasets, modelling software and technical evidence, you'll be able to translate detailed analysis into clear recommendations that support strategic planning and investment decisions.

You’ll be comfortable leading specialist work programmes, managing competing priorities and providing expert advice to a wide range of stakeholders. Whether working with transport planners, consultants, senior leaders or elected members, you'll be able to communicate complex technical information clearly and build confidence in your recommendations.

You will also bring:

• Significant experience in transport modelling, analysis and forecasting, together with strong knowledge of modelling methodologies, data management and scenario testing.
• Experience leading complex projects, managing consultancy contracts and overseeing modelling programmes, budgets and delivery.
• The ability to provide expert technical advice and present complex evidence clearly to senior officers, elected members and external partners.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or developing colleagues and supporting wider organisational capability in transport modelling.
• A degree in transport planning, engineering, mathematics or a related discipline, together with strong analytical, problem-solving and report-writing skills. Membership of a relevant professional body would be beneficial.

Could this be you?

Rewards and benefits

At OCC, you'll be part of a team that's not only passionate about what we do, but also about how we do it. We foster a culture of inclusion, respect, and continuous improvement, and we're proud to offer flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a strong sense of purpose in everything we do.

• Hybrid working - Flexibility is important to deliver the service and to suit individual lifestyles, we encourage discussion at interviews as we acknowledge there isn’t a one size fits all approach.
• Culture of flexible working
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your growth
• Technology to support agile working - with unlimited access to Copilot for smarter productivity
• Employee Assistance Programme with health and wellbeing support
• Generous annual leave - up to 30 days plus bank holidays, and an option to 'buy' additional time off
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local Government Pension Scheme - employer contributions up to 18.9%
• Discounts - local and national offers for shopping and travel