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

Job title: Assistant Transport Planner (Environmental Studies)

Salary: £27,711 - £30,060

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds. Hybrid working available

Transport development in Leeds is moving at a fast pace with a pipeline of major projects including significant investments in new public transport, highways, active travel, and city centre place making.

This is an opportunity to play a key role within a small team advising on the transport related environmental impacts of the projects and policies being delivered by the transport strategy team and to provide support to the Council’s regeneration and planning services.

This is not just an admin role, as an Assistant Transport Planner, you will have a varied role supporting the development, delivery and monitoring of schemes, strategies and policies. The role will involve site visits and provide an opportunity to develop new knowledge and skills to grow into a more senior role, as members of the existing team have previously done.   

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 an Assistant Transport Planner, you will bring to the role your ability to:

• Prioritise and organise your own workload within time constraints,
• Interpret technical reports and guidance notes and communicate the key issues clearly and succinctly both in writing and verbally,
• Deal courteously and effectively with people at all levels both verbally and in writing.
• Learn, grow and develop within the team. 

About the role

As an Assistant Transport Planner (Environmental Studies) you will directly contribute to the development of scheme business cases through the collection, analysis and reporting of the necessary environmental data and enable colleagues to design and promote better quality transport schemes for the citizens of Leeds.

This role is integral to the Environmental Studies Team who support colleagues within the wider Highways and Transportation Service to deliver better schemes by providing the necessary technical advice and environmental data collection and analysis required to evaluate the scheme.

You will thrive on meeting and communicating with members of the public, colleagues across the wider council and other public and private organisations bodies to provide specialist advice on the requirements of the relevant Environmental legislation and policy frameworks and deliver high quality services to elected Members and the citizens of Leeds.

You will also play a key role in the efficient administration and delivery of the statutory duties placed upon the Authority under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act (1973) and the Noise Insulation Regulations and help ensure that suitable mitigation measures are provided as part of scheme delivery where necessary.

The Team also fulfils the role of consultee to Planning Services ensuring the environmental impact of transport is adequately accounted for within new developments.

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 guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Richard Crowther, Team Leader – Environment Advisory. Call 0113 37 87515 or email richard.crowther@leeds.gov.uk

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - 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 and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job Purpose

Manage complex administrative procedures and actively support continuous improvement initiatives through contributing to cross Council projects and supporting the Service

To be an active part of a small team advising wider service areas on the environmental and legal ramifications arising from the Authority’s transport schemes through the scheme design stage and provide consultee responses to Planning Services regarding the environmental impact of transport on new developments.

The role will support the Team to carry out the Authority’s statutory duties under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act (1973) and the Noise Insulation Regulations and advising on relevant requirements of Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.

Responsibilities

• Advise the wider service area on the environmental and legal ramifications arising from the Authority’s transport schemes through the scheme design stage

• Provide consultee responses to Planning Services regarding the environmental impact of transport on new developments.

• Support the Team to carry out the Authority’s statutory duties under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act (1973) and the Noise Insulation Regulations, advising on the requirements of Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.

• Provide specialist advice through Pre-scheme design and post scheme monitoring and evaluation.

• Provide input and advice into Strategic Environmental Assessments and scheme specific Environmental Impact Assessments

• Efficient administration of claims received under the Land Compensation Act and the processing of compensation payments for settled claims

• Work within and interpret financial policies and procedures ensuring value for money

• Provide timely responses to enquiries from public and elected members.

• Advise colleagues on the requirements of Environmental Impact Assessment particularly with regards to noise and vibration, climate change and air quality impacts.

• Undertake noise calculations, noise measurements and data analysis for evaluation of scheme designs and producing cost estimates for noise insulation schemes and land compensation claims likely to arise from highway schemes.

• Produce management information from databases, spreadsheets etc. which will involve considerable amounts of time extracting and inputting data.

• Collect and evaluate data to assess the validity of compensation claims received under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act (1973) and identifying the eligibility of properties under the Noise Insulation Regulations.

• Inspect residential properties to advise and agree with householders the extent of any proposed noise insulation works they are eligible to receive.

• Manage small household noise insulation schemes and to monitor progress of the contract works on site.

• Maintain monitoring equipment inventories and records.

• Within a small service area or number of areas, to take responsibility for maintaining effective communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with Council good practice and with regard to implementing e-government objectives.

• Assist colleagues to work with elected members, service users and community representatives in ways which support open, responsive, and accountable government.

• Develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers and other stakeholders to achieve corporate objectives and to maintain a position of service provider of first choice.

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.

Qualifications Demonstrating ability in numeracy, literacy and a science or equivalent knowledge is essential

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people using a variety of formats, including members of the public at their own homes).
• Able to accurately enter/retrieve data information establishing and maintaining accurate records using manual and electronic systems.
• Able to use information technology e.g. word, spreadsheet, database etc.
• Able to prioritise, organise own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines.
• Able to produce and present reports and data.
• Able to develop constructive working relationships with others and work in partnership
• Able to use initiative to develop solutions to day-to-day issues and problems
• Able to travel throughout the Leeds City Council District.
• Able to interpret technical reports and guidance notes and communicate key issues effectively, clearly and succinctly both in writing and verbally.
• Able to prioritise and organise own workload and work within time constraints.
• Able to read and interpret plans maps and technical data and write short technical reports.
• Able to use relevant regulations and best practice guidance to determine acceptable requirements of new schemes and developments.
• Able to communicate effectively with members of the public in person (including at their own homes).
• Able to learn transport related noise and carbon impact assessment methodologies.
• Ability to manage minor contracts and supervise contractors.
• Knowledge of general office procedures and practice
• Understand responsibilities in terms of Health, Safety, Wellbeing, security, confidentiality and data protection
• Ability to provide customer focussed services and dealing with queries from a wide range of people

Essential Behavioural and Other Characteristics

• 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 It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates. Knowledge of environmental assessment and evaluation techniques.

• Awareness of the UK environmental legislation
• Experience of project working and organising personal workloads to meet deadlines.
• Experience of using GIS applications such as ArcMAP.
• An awareness of the key areas of planning and environmental management that relate to the principles of sound transport planning.
• Aware of key areas of planning and environmental management that relate to principles of transport planning
• Knowledge of relevant financial regulations to carry out financial transactions.

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