Safe and Sustainable Travel Team Leader (Travel Plans) - REQ003379

INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Safe and Sustainable Travel Team Leaders (Travel Plans)

Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282

Hours: Full time (37 hours per week) with flexible working hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House, Leeds (with hybrid working)

As the Travel Plans Team lead you will be responsible for ensuring robust, effective Travel Plans continue to be secured through the planning process and for a significant caseload reviewing the implementation, monitoring and funding of Travel Plans across the Leeds District. You work across land use classes and with workplaces, schools and residential developments.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Safe and Sustainable Travel Team Leader (Travel Plans), you will bring to the role:

Knowledge and understanding of the planning system and the role of Transport Policy and Travel Planning, including Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and Section 106 Agreements to achieve sustainable development.
Knowledge and understanding of preparing and delivering schemes and measures which promote and support safe and sustainable modes of transport.
Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of complex projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
Ability to lead and motivate others to achieve results.

About the role

As our next Safe and Sustainable Travel Team Leader (Travel Plans) you will work with two other Team Leaders and your Manager to deliver a growing programme of Behaviour Change projects, campaigns and events that contribute to key Council strategies and ambitions, such as the Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy, Vision Zero 2040 and the Sustainable Modes of School to Strategy (SMoTs). You will be passionate about your role in ensuring that residents, commuters and visitors in Leeds have a safe affordable, zero carbon choice in how they travel.

The role is integral to our Travel Behaviour Change Team as we embrace opportunities to deliver packages of Behaviour Change interventions alongside key infrastructure improvement schemes across Leeds.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Rachael Elliott, Travel Behaviour Change Manager. Call 0113 336 8935or email Rachael.elliott@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To lead a small Travel Planning team (6 colleagues) who are part of the wider Travel Behaviour Change team (total 20 colleagues).

Manage a varied caseload of Travel Plan planning consultations and review the implementation and monitoring of Travel Plans at development sites of all land use classes across the Leeds District. Manage the administration of associated Section 106 contribution funds.

Lead team members in the delivery of programmes and projects such as the School Streets programme, Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy (SMoTs), Car Club contract management, the Council’s own Travel Plan and government funded Active Travel / Behaviour Change projects.

Support the Travel Behaviour Change Manager, undertaking the development, monitoring and implementation of policies and programmes to facilitate Travel Behaviour Change and help to deliver the outcomes of the Connecting Leeds Transport and Vision Zero 2040 Strategies.

Responsibilities

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post, commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Support the Travel Behaviour Change Manager in the detailed organisation and administration of staff in the team.
Oversee the preparation and provision of Travel Planning consultation responses and advice for applicants/developers for workplaces, educational establishments and residential developments. This includes the assessment of Travel Plans submitted in support of development proposals and planning applications against Council policy standards.
Oversee the review of Travel Plan implementation and monitoring at sites across the Leeds District (workplaces, educational establishments and residential developments).
Oversee the implementation and monitoring of the Council’s Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy (SMoTs) and the Council’s own Travel Plan.
Manage Leeds City Council’s participation in the West Yorkshire Car Club contract, regularly liaise with the operator to monitor and encourage growth, provide reports and analysis of usage data.
Oversee the delivery of a range of education, training, events and campaigns to encourage safe, sustainable and active travel in a range of educational settings, businesses and the wider community.
Lead/project manage, develop and contribute to key projects and programmes to facilitate travel behaviour change and promote safe and sustainable travel to support delivery of the targets in the Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy (including partnership projects).
Respond to relevant national and regional policy and guidance consultations. Contribute to the review and development of key Leeds City Council strategy and guidance documents such as:
- Transport Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
- Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy
- Best Council Plan

In partnership with the other Safe and Sustainable Travel Team Leaders (Road Safety and Active Travel), develop innovative and targeted awareness campaigns and engagement strategies to encourage safe, sustainable and active travel behaviours.
Prepare reports for Executive Board and other boards and committees and issue briefs for Members and senior officers and contribute to documents including specifications, project briefings, reports, press releases and responses to letters and enquiries.
Respond to enquiries and liaise with appropriate contacts throughout the Department, Council and similar bodies.
Provide specialist advice to the directorate and other bodies on behalf of the team on matters relating to behaviour change, including those which support sustainable transport measures such as cycling, walking and other mobility measures.
Plan and manage project budgets, development of business cases, project briefs, and preparation of funding proposals, bids and resource plans as required.
Effectively plan and prioritise workload for the team and ensure it is carried out effectively, efficiently and to the required standard in line with service priorities and deadlines.
Identify and support training and development needs and requirements for the team and ensure they maintain up-to date knowledge on Travel Planning and Travel Behaviour Change techniques and practices.
Understand the requirements of circulars and guidelines, codes of practice, technical instructions and memoranda and ensure that such requirements are applied.
Ensure staff establish and maintain accurate records of key documents, decisions, approvals, enter and retrieve information accurately and that procedures and systems are reviewed and consistently followed.
Represent Leeds City Council on appropriate national and local bodies, working parties, steering groups and at public meetings.
Deputise for the Travel Behaviour Change Manager as necessary and undertake any other duties within the Section as workloads and priorities demand at a level appropriate to the grade of the post.
Understand and work within the Council’s health and safety policies and practice, taking responsibility for both personal safety and that of colleagues and the public.
Promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and equality in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and focus on equality of outcomes.

Qualifications

A degree or equivalent level qualification in a relevant field and/or extensive relevant experience.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Knowledge

Knowledge and understanding of the planning system and the role of Transport Policy and Travel Planning, including Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and Section 106 Agreements to achieve sustainable development.
Knowledge and understanding of preparing and delivering schemes and measures which promote and support safe and sustainable modes of transport.
An appreciation of the issues and concerns which influence decisions about safe and sustainable travel choices and journey planning by educational settings, business communities and individuals.
Awareness of and an ability to respect the sensitive and confidential nature of the work.

Skills

Ability to communicate and present detailed issues clearly and succinctly both in writing and verbally to a wide range of people.
Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of complex projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
Have a conscientious and committed approach towards completing tasks accurately and to deadlines.
Ability to contribute to and manage diversity and change programmes, improve service quality and support culture that drives up standards and performance.
Ability to lead and motivate others to achieve results.
Able to draft complex, non-standard letters, emails and reports in a logical and accurate manner.

Experience

Demonstrable experience in a planning, transport or engineering role relevant to the duties of this post within local authority, public or business sector organisation.
Experience in leading staff working in a team environment.
Experience in the development, delivery and review of transport strategy, initiatives and events or similar activities that facilitate Travel Behaviour Change.
Experience managing projects including monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
Experience of identifying and working with partner agencies and stakeholders to deliver multi-disciplinary projects.
Experience of working with members of the public.
Experience of interpreting data to inform, develop, implement and review projects.
Overseeing or contributing to the management of a budget.

Behavioural & other Characteristics

Be able to travel around Leeds independently and effectively.
Be flexible, innovative and open to new ideas to changing needs and circumstances.
Be committed to your own personal development and learning.
Be enthusiastic about making a difference and achieving modal shift towards sustainable forms of transport and travel in Leeds.
Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Knowledge of the principles of highways and traffic engineering.
Have an understanding of the National Curriculum/education system.
Ability to problem solve, find innovative solutions and be able to provide constructive conflict resolution.
Ability to lead initiatives and deliver projects from inception to completion.
Ability to promote sustainable transport with enthusiasm and persuasion.
Experience working with key partners such as the Combined Authority, Car Club, schools and other educational establishments.
Experience working with children or in an education setting.
Experience of local government and achieving results in a politically sensitive context.
Use of Travel Plan monitoring tools such as Modeshift STARS.
Experience chairing meetings.

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