About the role

Help Shape the Future of a City on the Move

Sheffield is the core city at the heart of the South Yorkshire region, a major employment centre and hub for high skilled jobs, global inward investment and knowledge intensive businesses, with its economic reach extending across Yorkshire and over the Pennines into the North West.

It's an exciting time to join Sheffield City Council. Momentum is building across the city, with significant investment already underway alongside an ambitious 10 year Growth Plan focused on driving economic growth, regeneration and opportunity for all.

A key part of that vision is &slshquot;A City on the Move&slshquot;; improving connectivity, enabling sustainable growth and ensuring transport infrastructure supports the city's ambitions. Working closely with partners including South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Sheffield is delivering major investment programmes that will shape the city for generations to come.

This role offers a unique opportunity to be at the heart of that journey, leading the development of transport policy, strategy and programmes that support Sheffield's growth and future prosperity.

The Role

As Principal Transport Planner, you will lead a team responsible for developing and delivering transport strategies, policies and programmes across a range of priority areas including:

Walking, wheeling and cycling
Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure
Parking strategy
Intelligent transport systems
Sustainable transport initiatives
Wider transport policy and programme development

You'll manage and support a team of transport professionals, work closely with senior stakeholders and elected members, and play a key role in shaping transport solutions that improve connectivity, support regeneration and enhance quality of life across the city.

About You

We're keen to hear from experienced transport professionals from local government, consultancies, combined authorities, transport bodies or infrastructure organisations.

You'll bring:

Experience developing and delivering transport strategy, policy or programmes.
Strong leadership and people management skills.
Experience managing complex projects and competing priorities.
Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership building abilities.
The ability to influence decision making within a complex political and organisational environment.
A relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience.

Most importantly, you'll be passionate about the role transport plays in supporting vibrant communities, economic growth and sustainable development.

Why Sheffield?

This is your opportunity to influence the future of a major UK city while working within a supportive and ambitious team delivering a programme of transport and infrastructure investment worth more than £100 million.

Unlike many private sector roles, Sheffield City Council offers:

Meaningful, city shaping work with lasting public impact.
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
Excellent work life balance.
A highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
Generous annual leave entitlement.
A strong commitment to employee wellbeing.
Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
A collaborative culture where you can genuinely influence outcomes.

Join Sheffield's Transport and Infrastructure Revolution

If you're ready to lead strategic transport initiatives, develop high performing teams and help deliver the ambitions set out in Sheffield's Growth Plan, we'd love to hear from you

To apply for the role you will need to do so via the Penna website- link here, where you will need to submit a CV and covering letter.

For a confidential discussion contact:brian.gallagher@penna.comor 07716 098175

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our Sheff news page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.