Principal Transport Planner – Development Planning
Location: Newcastle (Hybrid)
Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Transport Planner to join a well-established and growing transport planning consultancy in Newcastle. As a senior member of the team, you'll play a key role in leading the delivery of development planning projects across the North East and wider UK, while supporting the continued growth of the business.
Working on a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, mixed-use, education, healthcare and industrial developments, you'll provide strategic transport advice from initial feasibility through to planning approval. This role offers the opportunity to lead projects, manage client relationships and mentor junior team members within a collaborative and supportive environment.
If you're an experienced Senior Transport Planner ready to step into a Principal position, or an established Principal looking for a fresh challenge with greater autonomy and career progression, this is an excellent opportunity.
The Role
As a Principal Transport Planner, you will:
- Lead the delivery of Transport Assessments, Transport Statements and Travel Plans for a wide range of development projects.
- Manage multiple projects, ensuring delivery to programme, budget and the highest technical standards.
- Provide strategic transport planning advice throughout the planning application process.
- Oversee trip generation, distribution, junction capacity assessments and transport modelling outputs.
- Review and sign off technical reports prepared by junior members of the team.
- Liaise directly with clients, local authorities, architects and multidisciplinary design teams.
- Attend client meetings, planning discussions and public consultations where required.
- Support business development activities, including preparing fee proposals and identifying new opportunities.
- Mentor and develop Assistant and Transport Planners, providing technical guidance and support.
- Keep up to date with national planning policy, local transport guidance and industry best practice.
About You
The successful candidate will have:
- A degree in Civil Engineering, Transport Planning, Geography or a related discipline.
- Typically 6+ years' experience within transport planning, with a strong background in development planning.
- Proven experience preparing and reviewing Transport Assessments, Transport Statements and Travel Plans.
- A strong understanding of the UK planning system and development management process.
- Experience using software such as Junctions 10, LinSig, TRICS and TEMPro.
- Excellent report writing, communication and client-facing skills.
- Experience managing projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
- The ability to mentor junior staff and contribute to team development.
- Membership of, or progression towards, a relevant professional institution such as CIHT or TPS (desirable).
What's on Offer
- Competitive salary with regular salary reviews.
- Performance-related bonus.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
- Generous annual leave allowance.
- Company pension scheme.
- Private healthcare and enhanced benefits package.
- Professional membership fees paid.
- Continued support towards Chartership and ongoing professional development.
- The opportunity to lead high-profile development projects across the North East and beyond.
- A clear pathway towards Associate level and beyond within a growing consultancy.
If you're looking to take the next step in your transport planning career and want to play a leading role in delivering major development projects while helping to shape and grow a successful team, we'd love to hear from you.