Transport Planner - Senior or Principal

Job :
Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom Capabilities:
Planning and Consulting Office Setup:
Hybrid Company:
Jacobs At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
Shape the Future of Transport As our Transport Planning business continues to grow across the North West, we're looking for a Senior or Principal Transport Planner to join our expanding Manchester team at a particularly exciting time. This is an opportunity to become part of a business that is helping shape how people move, connect and experience places, working on projects that influence transport investment, unlock growth, improve accessibility and support the transition to a more sustainable future.

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with strategic thinking and a genuine passion for delivering positive outcomes for clients, communities and the environment. Whether your background is in transport planning, modelling, appraisal or business case development, you'll play a key role in helping clients solve complex challenges and make informed decisions on projects that matter.

Leading Complex Projects From day one, you'll be trusted to lead the delivery of significant transport planning commissions, guiding projects from early concept through to successful completion. You'll use your expertise to analyse complex transport challenges, interpret evidence, apply industry guidance such as TAG, DMRB and LTN 1/20, and develop robust recommendations that help secure investment and shape future transport networks.

Your work will directly support major infrastructure programmes, active travel initiatives, public transport improvements and future mobility solutions that have a lasting impact on communities across the UK.High-Profile Client Work What makes this role particularly exciting is the breadth and scale of work you'll be exposed to. Jacobs is involved in some of the UK's most important transport programmes, working alongside organisations including Manchester Airport Group, Transport for London, the Department for Transport, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Transpennine Route Upgrade to name just a few.

You'll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that influence national, regional and local transport priorities while working alongside some of the industry's leading planners, economists, engineers, data scientists and technical specialists.

Innovation, Data & Future Mobility Innovation is also at the heart of what we do. As transport continues to evolve, so does the way we solve problems. You'll have the opportunity to work with advanced analytics, digital tools, data science and emerging technologies to help clients gain deeper insights and make better decisions. Recent examples include the development of the National Public Transport Accessibility Tool (NaPTAT), an innovative GIS and ArcGIS-based analytics platform capable of measuring public transport accessibility across millions of journey points throughout the UK.

It's the kind of work that demonstrates how data, technology and transport planning can come together to solve real-world challenges and influence future investment decisions.

Growing the Manchester Team Beyond project delivery, you'll play an important role in growing and strengthening our Manchester transport planning team. You'll provide technical leadership and quality assurance, support the development of business cases, help secure new opportunities through bids and framework commissions, and build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders. You'll also mentor and develop graduates, consultants and early-career professionals, sharing your knowledge and helping shape the next generation of transport planners.

Real Influence & Career Growth This is much more than a technical role. It's an opportunity to influence how cities and regions develop, help deliver better public transport and active travel solutions, support major infrastructure investments and contribute to projects that genuinely improve people's lives. You'll join a collaborative and ambitious team where your ideas will be valued, your expertise will be trusted and your career can continue to grow alongside one of the most…