Senior Planning Policy Officer
Active Travel England
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 7th June 2026
Reference number: 457665
Salary: £44,241
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Location: Birmingham, York
Job summary
Are you good at communicating and working with a wide range of stakeholders?
Do you have a background in spatial planning, transport planning or a related field?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
There has never been a more exciting time to work in active travel. Active Travel England (ATE) sits at the heart of a high-profile national agenda, supporting the Government’s ambition for half of all journeys in England’s towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030. Joining ATE offers a genuine opportunity to shape planning policy and guidance at a time when health, decarbonisation and economic growth are central Government priorities.
A core function of ATE is its role within the spatial planning system as a statutory consultee on development proposals and its emerging plan-making service to support local and combined authorities in developing their spatial plans. The Planning Policy team underpins this work by leading the development of policy and guidance that defines ATE’s planning role and helps secure high‑quality outcomes for active travel.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
· Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
· 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
· Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Find out more about what it's like working at Active Travel England: Active Travel England - Department for Transport Careers
Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated and organised professional who is keen to support ATE as it evolves from a new agency into a credible and influential partner in the spatial planning system.
You will bring a strong understanding of planning for active travel, alongside experience in the public, private or voluntary sector, supported by sound knowledge of sustainable transport policy and practice. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills are essential.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:
· Support ATE’s input into the development of national policy and guidance relating to planning, including planning reforms, to ensure the integration of active travel in the planning system and in new developments.
· Support the development of AT’s emerging role in local and strategic plan making.
· Support the development of ATE planning guidance, tools, case studies and other projects.
· Actively build and manage relationships with external stakeholders in local and central government and industry, to engage and influence, gather insight, and stay informed of relevant developments.
· Build on stakeholder feedback, and monitoring and evaluation processes to propose improvements, changes and new solutions to support ATE’s role in planning.
· Collaborate closely with the Communications Team and Training and Education Team to proactively identify opportunities to enhance ATE’s impact and increase capabilities of external stakeholders.
This job description is intended only as a guide to the range of duties involved. The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable in order to respond to other duties that may be required from time to time and the changes and developments within ATE.
For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,241, Active Travel England contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:
· Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
· 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
· 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
· Access to the staff discount portal.
· Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
· Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
· 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
· Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact:
· Name :Ellen Douglass
· Email: [email protected]
Recruitment team
· Email: [email protected]
