Transport Policy Team Leader

Job Introduction

Role Purpose

We are seeking highly motivated and committed transport professional with an enthusiasm for sustainable transport to join our Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council Transport Development Management team.

The role will lead on the development and delivery of BCP Council transport strategy and policy both locally and regionally including the collection and analysis of transport data and forecasting. Specifically you will be the lead officer for the council on the updating of the  pan-Dorset Local Transport Plan, and providing a key supporting role with developing the transport evidence base for the BCP Local Plan. 

You will create supporting reports and documents to ensure that transport policy and performance management activities are developed, co-ordinated and delivered efficiently and effectively and integrate with the Council’s wider corporate objectives, and are in accordance with national policy.  You will manage the preparation of business cases and resource teams to develop proposals from feasibility to delivery stage including the securing of funding.

Main Responsibilities

• Ensure that the pan-Dorset Local Transport Plan (LTP) in partnership with Dorset Council officers is up to date including any relevant sub-sections.
• Lead on the input of transport policy input to local and sub-regional development plans, in particular the transport content of the BCP Local Plan.
• Develop and ensure BCP policy related delivery plans are up to date including the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP); Alternative Fuels Strategy and Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy.
• To be the lead transport officer contributing to the transport content of the Local Plan including acting as expert witness at the Local Plan Examination in Public and planning inquiries.
• To represent BCP Council on the SE Dorset Transport Model Steering Group.
• Identify sustainable transport solutions to support the delivery of LTP objectives; development arising through the BCP Local Plan and the BCP Council Corporate Strategy.
• To be the lead transport officer representing BCP Council at the Western Gateway Sub National Transport Body (STB) providing support and advice for elected Members as required and to input into the regional transport strategy.
• To provide BCP Council representation on strategic rail workstreams including Dorset Metro.
• Undertake the implementation of appropriate project management, monitoring and reporting arrangements in line with approved methodology and in line with Authority’s financial requirements.
• To develop funding bids and business cases to relevant government departments and agencies.
• To manage the collection and collation of traffic and transport data; analyse data to inform strategy development and reporting including KPIs in accordance with statutory, national and local requirements.
• To act as main transport point of contact in respect of air quality and noise monitoring with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
• To provide Councillors with specialist and complex advice on transport planning matters and present Committee Reports.
• Manage and provide open and transparent leadership and coaching to the Transport Policy Team with a range of policy areas of work, understanding the importance of diverse talent during recruitment and developing team members to achieve their best performance in achieving the strategic aims of the council through creativity and innovation.

Additional responsibilities including expected knowledge and experience set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Transport Planning Team Leader to join our team and play a key role in delivering the Council’s LTP4 and the BCP Local Plan. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and develop transport strategies and policies that support sustainable growth and enhance connectivity across BCP and beyond.

We are seeking a dedicated professional with substantial experience in managing and developing both professional and technical staff to ensure services meet established performance standards and targets. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in transport planning policy and strategy development, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Effective leadership and management abilities are essential to achieve outcomes that deliver corporate and local transport plan priorities.

The successful candidate will be adept at overseeing multiple transport planning and policy programmes, capable of producing concise reports with complex technical information for senior management and council committees. Strong people and resource management skills are necessary to balance competing demands and periods of high activity. The role requires the ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. Successful candidates should set out how they meet the criteria as part of their submission.

Personal Qualities & Attributes

• Provide key contribution to the strategic direction of the service by helping influence and develop strategic business plans, policy and procedure using information and data from customers. 
• Show commitment to test new ideas that may be outside own area of specialism, with a view to improving service delivery and creating new commercial opportunities. 
• Develop effective and lasting solutions to problems which align with the council values and where there are a range of options and the information is unclear or conflicting.
• Role model enthusiasm and commitment to delivering to delivering high quality services to meet the diverse needs of customers.
• The ability to effectively delegate projects and tasks to team members.
• Good negotiating skills with the ability to build and present a case, influencing and engaging with stakeholders who may have differing opinions.
• Ability to lead, plan and organise the activities of others, considering both short and long term implications to ensure strategic direction is supported.
• Ability to manage budgets, resources and funding effectively and flexibly within the context of Local Government and the future plans of the council as well as seek opportunities for income generation.

    Job Requirements

• Member of a professional body such as RTPI, TPS, CIHT, or CILT.
• Must be able to travel, using sustainable forms of transport as a first consideration (where they are viable), or alternatively by holding a valid UK driving licence with access to own or pool car.

About BCP Council

BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, word-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.

Our Benefits

We offer an excellent benefits package to colleagues. Find out more on our website

As a result of the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are working on simplifying our terms and conditions of service and will be creating a single pay structure which is to be applicable for all employees. It is important to us that we offer benefits that our colleagues value as part of their total employment package and we are reviewing these to make sure we have it right. We have been in a process of collective bargaining since 2019 and have positively worked forward to reach an agreed position with the unions for the new contractual offer. This has taken longer than we hoped and therefore we are having to consider all alternative avenues available to enable us to remove inequality in the organisation as a result of bringing together 3 councils. 

We are in the process of establishing a timescale for implementation, and all colleagues joining us will be included in these changes. We want to reassure everyone that whichever route is taken to reach the new terms and conditions, we can honour continuous service and there will not be any job reduction as a result of the implementation of Pay and Reward.  If you have any questions at all about this process, please feel free to raise this with the hiring manager.

Contact and Apply 

If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity or would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Alexis Edwards via alexis.edwards@bcpcouncil.gov.uk for an informal conversation.

Applying is easy, simply register your details, tell us how you meet our criteria in the supporting evidence section, remove your personal details from your CV and upload.

For further information and to apply, click here.

Key Dates:

Closing date: Monday 9 June

Interview date: Thursday 3 July