Owing to an internal reorganisation of the senior management structure, an exciting opportunity has arisen at Transport for the North (TfN) for a Strategy, Policy and Communications Director.

TfN is the UK’s first sub-national transport body. We bring the North’s Local Transport Authorities and business leaders together, enabling our region to speak with one voice on the transport infrastructure investment needed to drive transformational growth and rebalance the UK economy. Our vision is of a thriving North of England, where world class transport supports sustainable economic growth, excellent quality of life and improved opportunities for all.

We are looking to recruit a high calibre individual who can drive and deliver TfN’s priorities and pan-northern strategic transport planning, and ensure that the outputs from the Strategy, Policy and Communications teams are fully integrated into the on-going development, update and delivery of TfN’s long term goals and objectives. You will also be involved in communicating TfN’s strategic plans ensuring high levels of awareness and engagement.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record in policy development and strategic planning, as well as a track record in managing and commissioning technical analysis services.  In addition to the candidate will have an excellent understanding of working in complex public sector environments. The candidate will foster productive working relationships with all TfN’s partners, delivery agencies and third-party service providers necessary to support and deliver TfN’s strategy, programmes and project requirements. With responsibility for TfN’s Technical Assurance, Modelling and Evaluation (TAME) team, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop TfN’s offer to support its partners (regionally and nationally).

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, this role offers an opportunity to help take the organisation to the next stage as:

• A regional source of excellence and best practice on transport planning and policy
• A trusted information source which creates a wealth of data for use locally, regionally and nationally
• A thought leader with a long-term, ambitious vision for the North of England

Above all, you must be action oriented – this role is about providing strong, visible and collective leadership, delivering TfN’s strategic objectives and embedding real change to achieve the ambitions of economic growth for the North. 

If this sounds like you, then we would very much like to hear from you. 

This year the Levelling Up agenda has progressed from a vision to a series of missions and TfN will be looking to align its work with these missions to grasp the once-in-a-generation opportunities that this presents for our region. 

What's on offer for the successful applicant

Competitive base salary depending on experience, coupled with an excellent benefits package, and fantastic degree of flexible working which will see you work remotely, with a requirement to regularly work from our offices in Manchester.

For further information please visit our https://transportforthenorthleaders.com/ or for an informal discussion about this exciting role, please contact:  Pete John on 07701 305617 or via pete.john@penna.com or Kelly Ridley on 07709 512415 or via kelly.ridley@penna.com.

Closing date:       12 Noon, Thursday 29 September 2022

Final interviews: Monday 31 October 2022

Candidates wishing to apply for this role on a secondment basis of up to two years will be considered.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We are particularly keen to encourage applications from women, members of ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities who are currently under-represented. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, all applications will be considered on their merit.

Want to know more about TfN, then visit us on our website or look at our Twitter page or find us on LinkedIn or on Instagram