Associate Director - Transport Planning

SLR provide transport planning advice to clients across sectors including residential, retail and logistics. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Transport Planning professional to join at Associate Director level, to assist with both project delivery and with client and team management activities. We are keen to hire in to several offices, including Southampton, Bury St Edmunds and Bolton.

Our Transport & Mobility Planning team has a vision to deliver a valuable and lasting contribution to society through the way people connect, move and interact. Through bespoke solutions we enable development to be brought forward positively and sustainably, simultaneously optimising commercial value and placemaking. Whether we’re working on garden towns, strategic rail freight interchanges, nuclear power stations, sports stadiums, public sector schemes or small residential projects, we combine vision and creativity with technical rigour in design, planning and modelling to ensure the best outcome.

By implementing the latest innovations in transport planning, we are proud to be making a positive contribution, driving decarbonisation and changing mind-sets about travel behaviour. Our dedicated research and innovation arm ensures we are at the forefront of mobility solutions for sustainable development. Our team of social scientists, transport planners and climate specialists have a wealth of experience assisting in developing science-based and net zero carbon reduction targets.  

This knowledge provides our transport planners and engineers with insight and knowledge about best practice and future mobility approaches that directly benefit our clients on development planning projects in the UK.  

Led by one of the most experienced and recognised management teams in the industry, our scale, knowledge and reputation for unlocking complex sites in a sustainable manner provides our employees with vast development possibilities and the opportunity to help solve some of the most complex transport planning issues affecting our clients. As well as providing sound technical advice we consider it important to bring personality to our projects. We are focused on attracting and retaining high calibre individuals and hence many of our staff have, or are working towards, professional industry qualifications. Investing in our employees by providing training and a regular programme of CPD activities is part of our continual development strategy to improve skills, knowledge and understanding.  

We pride ourselves on being a company focussed on our staff and we seek to create a culture which is beneficial to both our staff and our clients. We create a camaraderie amongst all our staff through a variety of social events, with the aim of encouraging all new starters to become part of the team.

As an Associate Director you will be responsible for the delivery of a wide range of transport planning project for various clients across the UK, using a detailed knowledge and experience of standard modelling packages and recognised transport appraisal techniques.  

The role 

You will be involved in managing and delivering a number of complex projects with the team at any one time. This would include the promotion of development sites from site identification/ acquisition, planning application submission, discharge of planning conditions and monitoring through the planning process, preparing transport statements, assessments, travel plans and other supporting documentation such as delivery servicing management plans.

As part of the team or lead on projects, you will deliver market leading consultancy advice to clients and co-consultants and be confident in explaining technical matters to decision makers, interested parties, more junior team members and lay people. You will provide support to both junior and senior staff as well as having the opportunity to develop your own project management and work winning skills. 

Your key responsibilities will be:  

• Manage client relationships to ensure the securing of work; 
• Negotiate fee proposals; 
• Manage projects in line with client expectations and internal priorities; 
• Manage and control project finances; 
• Communicate with colleagues as appropriate; 
• Continue to update personal knowledge or relevant technical, legal and policy changes;  
• Manage and develop colleague’s technical and commercial skills within the team;  
• Use personal judgement and initiative to develop effective and constructive solutions;  
• Maintain continuous professional development;  
• Provide guidance on quality matters and technical issues; and 
• Seek to “add value” to all projects. 

About us 
SLR are global leaders in environmental and advisory solutions helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. We are a consultancy with over 4,000 staff across 6 regions – including over 1,600 staff across Europe. SLR’s ‘one team’ culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment for professional development. 

Along with competitive salaries, our staff enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including a company pension and healthcare offering, travel and life insurance, critical illness cover and a structured career framework with regular reviews offering outstanding opportunities for progression. Alongside 25 day’s annual leave, SLR offer agile working which allows staff to tailor hours worked around core hours, and our family friendly policies help balance the needs of professional and family life.   

About you 
You will be an experienced Transport Planner, with a thorough understanding of relevant planning and transport policy and delivery of advice and results for clients. You will ideally have: 

• A degree in a related subject; 
• Significant experience in preparing Transport Statements, Assessments and other related documents;  
• Understanding of priority junction Modelling software (Junctions 11); 
• Experience of using LINSIG and ability to understand outputs;  
• Understanding of the principles of micro-simulation and strategic models/ modelling; 
• Knowledge of design standards (DMRB, MfS) and when and how they are used; 
• Experience of developing access, parking and sustainable transport strategies;
• Experience of preparing fee proposals and winning work independently;
• Knowledge of S106 agreements, S278 agreements and Traffic Regulation Orders; 
• Project management skills with the capability to manage a wide and complex workload; 
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and have a strong ability to use their own initiative; 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and 
• Excellent interpersonal skills to develop working relationships with colleagues, co consultants, clients and stakeholders. 

Culture & Inclusion at SLR
We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer, and our expectations go beyond purely complying with legislation. Through our Regional C&I Committees, Global Council and Employee Networks, we foster an inclusive environment where all people regardless of their background can thrive.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background, including those from groups that are currently under-represented at SLR, such as people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous peoples, ethnic minority groups, women, and people with visible or invisible disabilities, including those who are neurodivergent.

Should you require any special adjustments throughout the recruitment process with us, please let us know. As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we seek to ensure all applicants have equitable support when applying to SLR.