Associate Director - Sustainable Transport Policy & Planning Lead (April 2025)

Location: Remote first, flexible working arrangements, with all UK based locations considered. Our flexible office collaboration spaces, for those wishing to use them, are in London, Bristol, Birmingham and Exeter

Term: Permanent, Full Time (40 hours per week, or by agreement)

Salary: Competitive, dependent on knowledge, experience and skills
Grade: Associate Director (Managing a team of transport planning consultants and reporting to the Managing Director)

Close: 5pm, Tuesday 22 April 2025

Unfortunately, we cannot accept applicants that (now or in the future) require sponsorship for an employment visa. Any application requiring a visa (without clear clarification) will be rejected.
We are also only accepting direct applications - no recruiters please.

ABSTRACT

We are seeking candidates with sustainable transport and spatial planning/net zero development expertise, to lead an arm of our consultancy function. Experience in leading local transport plans, active travel, and policy development are a plus. You must have a proven track record of direct sales and tenders, as the role will come with significant work winning targets.

Key requirements:

• 5+ years’ experience in a consultancy, including at least 3 tendering and work winning.

• Evidenced work winner, leading over £500k in secured opportunities in the past year.

• A demonstrable client network across the UK with potential for direct commissions.

• Visible experience leading Local Transport Plans, Bus Service Improvement Plans and/or Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plans (ideally within the last 5 years).

• Managerial experience of multiple staff and multiple projects simultaneously (3+ years).

Although this is a consultancy role, we aim to provide extensive flexibility, enjoyment and fulfilment to our roles, to support the growth of our team members and our organisation. We strive to deliver impact from our work, to support delivering decarbonisation insights to decision makers. We will therefore adjust the role to the right candidate, so please be open on the areas you do and do not cover.

Many Thanks,
Simon Lusby (Chartered Transport Planner) - Managing Director

ABOUT US

City Science is an SME founded in 2015 with a core mission of delivering decarbonisation. We help organisations who are committed to decarbonisation achieve meaningful and quantifiable carbon reductions quickly and efficiently.

We work collaboratively across our consultancy team made up of transport planning, transport modelling, energy, sustainability, carbon accounting and applied data science specialists to provide integrated solutions to our clients. Our range of clients is extensive and includes forward-thinking local authorities like Oxfordshire County Council, sub-national transport bodies like England’s Economic Heartland and national transport organisations like National Highways (see our full list of projects here).

Our consultancy team works closely with our software and product development team who produce innovative and uniquely insightful digital tools, like Cadence and our decarbonisation tool, to successfully deliver our projects.

The focus of this role are:

• Sustainable Transport (e.g. Local Transport Plans, Local cycle & walking infrastructure plans (LCWIPs) and movement strategies)

• Net Zero Development (e.g. Transport evidence bases for Local Plans and infrastructure strategies)

• Net Zero Transport (e.g. electric vehicle and parking action plans, transport decarbonisation pathways, clean air zones)

City Science has a close-knit structure of people of diverse backgrounds, all with a shared purpose of ensuring we leave behind a better world. We provide an environment where people feel valued and supported in their career progression including providing significant opportunities to work across a wide variety of exciting projects in our consultancy business.

ABOUT THE ROLE
We are currently recruiting an Associate Director in Sustainable Transport to play a pivotal role in leading and championing the growth of our sustainability and transport business. We are seeking a unique individual to represent City Science in front of clients, identify and secure new business and successfully deliver a growing portfolio of projects across the client base. Reporting to the Managing Director, working often directly with the CEO and collaboratively with our R&D team, the successful candidate will grow our Transport, Sustainability & Net Zero Development offering, maximising the value of our cutting-edge research, delivering this to clients through a trusted, consultative approach.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and leading the City Science Transport & Net Zero Development offer, leading delivery of a growing portfolio of consultancy projects

• Responsibility for managing resources within and balancing between allocated region/discipline including resourcing, carrying out appraisals, staff development, upskilling and mentoring

• Leading oversight, project management, technical support and strategic direction for technical projects being delivered by virtual teams. Ensuring delivery to a high standard, within budget, on programme and in accordance with client requirements and technical best practice

• Scoping, reviewing, managing and quality assuring the preparation of technical and client reports, presentations, tender documents and publications

• Leading, conducting, overseeing and delivering high-quality modelling, analysis and expert advice, utilising a variety of software packages and bespoke analyses

• Working closely with the data science and development teams to automate processes and providing constructive feedback to ensure continuous

• Working with our Managing Director and CEO to develop and deliver against the company-wide business plan, including owning delivery for an allocated region

• Building our pitch, promotional material, strategic client base, strategic partnerships and case studies, supporting the overall strategic offer

• Taking a strategic leadership role in work winning – leading on strategic pursuits and taking the role of Bid Manager on tenders and tracking emerging opportunities

• Working with the Managing Director and the Business Development team to grow the regional profile of our key capabilities and increase our influence and engagement with Local Authorities and other potential clients

• Meeting and presenting our capability to key stakeholders including senior officers and portfolio holders within local authorities and delivering go-to-market strategies for new customer propositions

• Providing clients with a deep understanding of our solutions, services and emerging innovations, including thought-leading content to promote our brand and values

• Growing and managing a pipeline of new business, including leading developing and delivering successful proposals, business-winning demos, pitches and customer engagement activities