Active Travel Project Manager (EK)

Below is a QA/JD-style description tailored to the role, suitable for presenting the vacancy and assessing candidate suitability.

Job Title: Active Travel Project Manager Role Overview

The Active Travel Project Manager will support Somerset Council in the delivery of its £9 million+ Active Travel capital programme, overseeing transport schemes from project inception, business case development and scheme preparation through to construction and operational handover.

The role will work closely with Active Travel England, internal Council teams, local stakeholders, consultants and delivery partners to ensure projects are appropriately developed, funded, governed and delivered in accordance with relevant technical, financial, planning and regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate will coordinate complex, multi-disciplinary projects involving transport planning, highways, design, commercial, procurement, planning, legal, property, construction and operational teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the development and preparation of active travel and transport infrastructure schemes from inception through to construction.

• Support the development of Strategic Outline Business Cases through to Full Business Cases and formal project gateways.

• Establish effective project governance, roles, responsibilities, milestones and deliverables.

• Coordinate multi-disciplinary project teams across planning, design, construction, commercial, legal, property and operational functions.

• Manage day-to-day project delivery, ensuring schemes remain on track against programme, budget, quality and agreed outcomes.

• Commission and coordinate technical activities including traffic modelling, highways design, surveys, planning and legal advice, land acquisition and property requirements.

• Develop and manage stakeholder engagement, consultation and communication activities.

• Work with Active Travel England and other national and local stakeholders to support compliance with funding, design and programme requirements.

• Develop and support procurement strategies, commissioning arrangements and supplier engagement.

• Coordinate Early Contractor Involvement and buildability assessments where required.

• Support the progression of planning consents, statutory approvals and CPO requirements where applicable.

• Ensure appropriate compliance with CDM 2015 and relevant health, safety and governance requirements.

• Monitor and manage project risks, dependencies, costs, milestones and performance.

• Ensure project outputs and outcomes are delivered at each stage of the project lifecycle.

• Support the transition of schemes from development into construction and operational delivery.

• Commission and coordinate programmes of minor transport improvement and road safety schemes.

• Work with operational teams to establish appropriate processes for scheme identification, prioritisation and delivery.

• Provide clear and accurate project reporting, assurance and recommendations to senior managers and relevant governance bodies.

Key Skills & Experience

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong project and programme management experience, preferably within transport, highways or infrastructure.

• Experience managing projects through multiple stages of the project lifecycle.

• Strong stakeholder management and engagement skills.

• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams.

• Knowledge of transport planning, infrastructure development or active travel.

• Experience with procurement, commissioning and contract management.

• Strong understanding of project governance, risk, budget and programme management.

• Experience developing or supporting business cases and project gateways.

• Ability to commission and manage technical consultants and specialist services.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make evidence-based recommendations.

• Experience working within a local authority, public-sector or politically sensitive environment would be advantageous.

• Knowledge of CDM 2015, planning, statutory approvals and transport infrastructure delivery would be desirable.

Key Competencies

• Project & Programme Management

• Transport Planning

• Active Travel

• Stakeholder Management

• Multi-disciplinary Team Coordination

• Procurement & Commissioning

• Budget & Financial Management

• Risk Management

• Governance & Assurance

• Business Case Development

• Technical Project Management

• Planning & Statutory Approvals

• Transport Infrastructure Delivery

• Consultation & Engagement

• Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Communication & Influencing

Candidate QA / Assessment Criteria

• Assessment Area

  Evidence to Look For

• Project Management

  Evidence of managing complex projects from inception through delivery/handover

• Programme Management

  Experience managing multiple schemes, milestones, dependencies and priorities

• Transport Experience

  Background in transport planning, highways, infrastructure or active travel

• Stakeholder Management

  Experience working with councils, government bodies, contractors, consultants, communities and senior stakeholders

• Multi-disciplinary Working

  Experience coordinating planning, design, commercial, legal, technical and operational teams

• Procurement & Commissioning

  Experience developing procurement strategies, commissioning services and managing suppliers

• Financial Management

  Experience monitoring budgets, costs, value for money and financial risks

• Governance & Assurance

  Experience with project governance, business cases, gateways, reporting and approvals

• Technical Coordination

  Experience commissioning or managing technical studies, modelling, surveys or design work

• Risk Management

  Demonstrable management of project risks, dependencies, issues and mitigation

• Public Sector Environment

  Experience working with local authorities, government bodies or politically sensitive projects

• Construction Readiness

  Experience transitioning projects from development/design into construction or operational delivery

• Regulatory Knowledge

  Understanding of CDM 2015, planning, statutory approvals and relevant transport requirements

• Communication

  Ability to present complex technical information clearly to senior managers and stakeholders

Overall Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an experienced Transport Project/Programme Manager with strong public-sector or infrastructure experience, capable of coordinating complex multi-disciplinary transport schemes, managing stakeholders and suppliers, controlling budgets, risks and programmes, and taking projects from business case and development through to construction and operational handover.

1 day in office, 2 days working remote