Associate Director – Transport Planning

Overview

As Associate Director in Midlands Transport Planning, you will lead and shape strategic transport projects, driving sustainable solutions and growth for the practice. You’ll work with a multidisciplinary team to deliver complex studies, business cases, and policy support for public and private clients. Your leadership and client engagement will strengthen relationships and win work across national and regional frameworks. This role combines strategic direction with hands-on delivery in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working model
• career development opportunities
• AECOM University
• volunteering days
• well-being programs
• flexible benefits

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to grow the transport planning practice and align with wider business goals
• Lead client engagement and maintain relationships with public sector and industry stakeholders
• Oversee delivery of complex transport planning projects, ensuring quality, budget, and timelines
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities; prepare bids and proposals
• Recruit, mentor and develop a high-performing transport planning team
• Collaborate with Streets & Technology, Highways, Aviation, Ports, Rail and Environmental teams on multidisciplinary projects
• Support development of policy, strategy, and transport studies including business cases and appraisals
• Represent the company in client meetings, industry events and conferences
• Promote a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with relevant UK&I transport planning regulations and standards

Key requirements

• Extensive experience in transport planning with focus on appraisal, business case development and/or monitoring/evaluation
• Proven track record in winning work and leading teams
• Strong leadership and people-management capabilities
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage complex projects and deliver results
• Comprehensive knowledge of transport planning principles, policies, and UK&I regulations
• Expertise in transport appraisal and business case development
• Ability to interface with modelling and design teams in scheme development
• Proficiency in commonly used transport planning tools and software
• Chartered status (CIHT or TPS) is highly desirable

• leadership
• stakeholder management
• communication
• transport planning tools and software
• appraisal and business case development
• monitoring and evaluation

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