Transport for London
Principal City Planner
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Principal City Planner (5348)
Salary: Circa £58,500 depending on skills, knowledge, and experience
Band: 3
Position type: Perm
Location: Endeavour Square & Palestra (Stratford/Central London/Hybrid)
Hybrid working within this role consists of at least three days a week in the office with up to two days a week working from home. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.
Job Purpose
This role is at the forefront of TfL’s efforts to deliver the vision of the London Plan and Mayor’s Transport Strategy and influence the future shape of London. It will ensure evidence-based policy helps London become a healthier, more liveable, and sustainable city through the delivery of new homes and jobs, better public transport, and Healthy Streets.
You will work to ensure this ambitious vision is fully reflected in all areas of planning in London through the:
- Strategic approach in the London Plan
- Ensuring borough local plans are aligned to the London Plan
- Advising development management colleagues on challenging cases
You will work closely with the GLA to ensure transport supports new homes and jobs as well as the other ‘Good Growth’ objectives in the London Plan, and alongside teams in TfL to ensure growth is properly considered across a range of policy, project, and analytical work.
The role requires taking the initiative to develop new policy ideas and to set out evidence-driven, succinct, and persuasive policy narratives, both in writing and orally, including to high-profile planning examinations and meetings with stakeholders.
As well as excellent communication skills, a strong understanding of analysis and ability to work with other teams to deliver results is required. The role also offers opportunities to develop a broad understanding of London’s transport context, expert-level knowledge on key topics, and a wider appreciation for issues including housing, the economy, public health, and the environment.
Key Accountabilities
- Develop evidence-based policies, plans, and projects for a portfolio/mode/geographic area, including option generation, analysis, commissioning research, conducting best practice reviews, and understanding operational and stakeholder needs.
- Build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, representing TfL on important working groups, at meetings, seminars, events, and conferences, and providing expert advice on specific areas of focus.
- Work with the GLA, boroughs, and others to shape their strategies and plans to better integrate transport and land use planning, ensure transport priorities are fully understood and reflected, and to develop and promote best practice and innovative solutions to address the challenges facing London.
- Act as the lead for assigned projects, managing inputs from across TfL and beyond, balancing competing priorities, negotiating key outcomes with external parties, and providing advice to senior colleagues.
- Work flexibly in a matrix environment and manage a diverse range of projects to support TfL priorities, including resource planning, commissioning of work, management of virtual cross-functional teams, and provide guidance to less experienced colleagues.
- Draft briefings, reports, presentations for senior people internally/externally to influence and support decisions around the development and promotion of policies / area plans / projects and build alliances & resolve issues to secure wider buy-in.
- Manage complex modal, area, corridor, or other studies to understand the transport challenges and develop potential options to address them, including the appraisal of schemes and policies and development of robust business cases.
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Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
Knowledge
- Relevant qualification at degree level or higher and/or professional membership / qualification of a recognised professional Institution (e.g., ICE; IHT; CILT; RTPI) or equivalent experience (essential).
- In-depth knowledge and practical application of emerging best practices in some of the following areas: transport, economics, appraisal, land use planning, environment, public health, and urban design (essential).
- Detailed understanding of cities from the perspective of transport systems, health, and environment, particularly London and its governance (essential).
- Detailed understanding of transport planning and the wider context to the development of projects and proposals (essential).
- Comprehensive understanding of TfL's financial, legal, political, and regulatory environment (desirable).
- Detailed understanding of project management processes, including their strategic transport context (desirable).
Skills
- Initiation and Feasibility of projects in line with policies & other requirements - Experience.
- The relationship between data and its intended application - Experience.
- Developing or assessing transport policies and strategies - Experience.
- Developing work plans - Experience.
- High standard of verbal, visual, and written communication, including producing high-quality reports and presentations - Experience.
- Use of tools used in transport and land use planning such as GIS, modelling, and/or analysis of large data sets - Advantageous.
Experience
- Experience of managing elements of the development of project, programme, planning, or policy.
- Experience of working in a flexible, multi-disciplinary team, including managing specific resources (cost and people) within this environment.
- Experience of specifying, producing, presenting, and reviewing complex information in a simple way material for key stakeholders (internal and external).
- Experience of managing resources, including cost and people, to meet an objective.
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Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability-confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.
Application Process
Please apply using your 2-page CV and a brief covering letter.
Think carefully about the skills, knowledge, and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and covering letter. PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.
The closing date for applications is 1st September 2026 @ 23:59.
All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right-to-work checks. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Vetting Process
At Transport for London, safety, trust, and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/our-vetting-process) explains the checks we carry out before you join us, helping ensure we create a safe, inclusive, and reliable network for everyone who depends on our services. We simply ask that the information you provide is honest and accurate so we can progress your application smoothly. If something doesn’t match or can’t be verified, we may not be able to move forward with your application but we’ll always treat you with transparency, respect, and clear communication throughout.
Benefits
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the business area but mostly include:
- Final salary pension scheme
- Free travel for you on the TfL network
- Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
- 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
- TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow.
- Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
- Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
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