Spatial Planning Manager
| Posting date: | 23 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £54,180 to £64,120 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 January 2026 |
| Location: | Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 7UA |
| Company: | National Highways |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7017_1769168517 |
Summary
About the job
Ready to shape the future of planning and transport on one of the world's most advanced road networks? As a Spatial Planning Manager at National Highways, you'll lead a team that ensures local development plans and transport strategies work seamlessly with the Strategic Road Network.
Whether your background is in town planning, transport planning, development management or consultancy, this is your chance to influence big decisions, drive continuous improvement, and leave a positive legacy for generations to come.
Based out of our Wakefield office on a hybrid basis, there is an expectation of regular travel with this role.
- Support economic growth and development by leading National Highways' role in the spatial planning system across Yorkshire Northeast, making sure local authority and stakeholder plans consider the strategic road network.
- Lead on statutory and regulatory duties while creating efficient processes and managing resources across both in-house teams and external consultants.
- Drive a proactive approach to managing and leading our spatial planning consultancy contract, ensuring we get the best value and expertise to support our ambitions whilst also reducing none value added activity.
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Lead, inspire and develop a team of Spatial Planners and Assistant Spatial Planners, fostering a culture of high performance, ownership and self development.
About you
- Chartered Transport or Town Planner, or demonstrates equivalent relevant experience.
- Awareness and knowledge of the Spatial Planning system in England and the duties and obligations of the parties involved.
- Proven track record in a leadership role and significant experience in managing a team.
- Experienced in developing and delivering continuous improvement initiatives and sharing best practice in areas of varied transport and planning expertise.
- A clear communicator with proven negotiating and influencing skills, able to direct and motivate a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and customers.
About us
Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.
Operations is at the heart of keeping the strategic road network moving and ensuring our customers get the best possible experience when using our roads.
We address over 39,000 customer enquiries every month, plan and deliver all maintenance activities on the network, drive efficiencies and improvements across our systems and roads, and respond to incidents across 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads that we manage. All to make sure National Highways customers have safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys.
External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.
We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme