Sustainable Travel Planning Officer

Please note attendance in person at County Hall or on-site location is required 1-2 days per week.

Join our dynamic Sustainable Transport (ST) team in our mission to transform Essex into a Safer, Greener, and Healthier County. We're dedicated to fostering active travel and sustainable transport options, enhancing our residents’ well-being while reducing our carbon footprint.

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services

The Opportunity

As the Sustainable Travel Planning Officer, you'll spearhead collaborative efforts with diverse stakeholders to craft innovative strategies promoting sustainable travel among schools, businesses, and new housing developments. Your role will involve orchestrating the development, implementation, and monitoring of Travel Plans aimed at catalysing modal shift throughout the county.

We're seeking a passionate individual who will champion sustainable travel initiatives with unwavering dedication. Your role will involve delivering impactful Travel Planning solutions, encouraging innovation, with effective communication to steer a wide array of sustainability-focused projects forward.

Join us in creating a brighter, more sustainable future for Essex!

Accountabilities

• Contribute to the development and delivery of new initiatives, supporting sustainable travel policies, working towards a leading authority Travel Plan model.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, property developers and Headteachers to promote the development and implementation of Business, Residential and School Travel Plans. Provide up-to-date information and assistance, sharing best practice in relation to Travel Plans, exploring the benefits and opportunities to promote alternatives to single car occupancy travel.
• Represent ECC and advise on sustainable travel options at local, regional, and national meetings whilst researching best practice from other organisations and authorities.
• Monitor, manage and promote the Essex County Council (ECC) Employee Travel Plan Schemes, including Pool Bikes, Car Share, Bike Loans, Public Transport Discounts and Business Travel.
• Liaise with County and District officers, in response to relevant planning proposals ensuring sustainable travel issues are considered and implemented during the planning process. Provide recommendations and advice on Travel Plans (School, Business, Residential, Cluster and Area) promoting measures and best practice to reduce use of the private car.
• Deliver professional advice and guidance on regular monitoring of Travel Plans to designated on-site Travel Plan Co-ordinators including utilisation of data analysis from Travel Surveys to agree modal shift targets and key indicators.
• Work collaboratively with District/Borough/City Councils, internal and external stakeholders to develop travel information packs and other promotional material in support of sustainable travel.
• Champion the Safer Greener Healthier vision, acting as an ambassador, and supporting others to effectively promote the aim and aspirations.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to RQF Level 3 (A level) OR degree level, or equivalent by experience.
• Practical experience of Residential Travel Planning preferred but not essential, Travel Planning experience essential.
• Knowledge of sustainable travel initiatives and/or development, implementation and monitoring of Travel Plans.
• Knowledge of national travel planning campaigns/initiatives (including cycling, walking and public transport).
• Proven track record in co-ordinating successful projects, with excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the ability to develop and deliver effective presentations.
• Ability to build strong working relationships and negotiate and influence partners, public transport operators and developers.
• Experienced user and/or advocate of public/sustainable/active transport.
• Able to use Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [email protected]

Closing date: 19 June 2026.