East Midlands Combined County Authority
Strategic Transport Innovation & Programme Manager
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Strategic Transport Innovation & Programme Manager
Directorate: Place (Transport)
Reports to: Head of Transport Strategy
Direct reports: Up to 5
Salary: £54,143-£59,748
Budget responsibility: £10 million
This is an exciting time to join the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) as we take forward the devolution of transport and develop our first regional Local Transport Plan.
We are looking for an experienced and ambitious Strategic Transport Innovation & Programme Manager to provide strategic leadership across some of the most important and fast-moving areas of transport policy and investment.
This is a regional leadership role, giving you the opportunity to shape EMCCA's thinking on transport innovation, future mobility, decarbonisation, zero-emission vehicles, electric vehicle infrastructure and active travel.
You will look beyond the immediate challenges facing the transport system and help us understand what transport could look like over the next 15–20 years. You'll lead horizon-scanning and strategic foresight, working with government, industry, technology providers, local authorities and other partners to understand emerging technologies, market developments, regulatory change and future mobility trends. This includes emerging areas such as autonomous and connected vehicles, micromobility, drones and digital and data-enabled transport solutions.
At the same time, you'll be responsible for turning strategic thinking into delivery, overseeing significant investment programmes and ensuring innovation leads to tangible benefits for people, businesses and communities across the East Midlands.
The devolution of transport responsibilities creates a unique opportunity to influence how the region plans, invests in and delivers its future transport network.
As EMCCA develops its first regional Local Transport Plan, you will help shape policy and investment priorities, ensuring they are informed by evidence, market intelligence and an understanding of how transport technology and user needs are changing.
You will also lead EMCCA's work on transport decarbonisation and electric vehicle infrastructure, overseeing the procurement and rollout of three ambitious, multi-million-pound electric vehicle infrastructure programmes across the East Midlands. This will require strong commercial judgement, market knowledge, negotiation skills and the ability to lead complex programmes from strategy and business case development through procurement and commissioning to delivery and evaluation.
About the role
As Strategic Transport Innovation & Programme Manager, you will:
- Lead the development of long-term strategies, policies and implementation programmes across transport innovation, future mobility, decarbonisation, zero-emission vehicles, electric vehicle infrastructure and active travel.
- Provide strategic leadership on emerging transport technologies and their potential implications for the East Midlands.
- Lead horizon-scanning, strategic foresight and market intelligence activity, considering developments over a 15–20 year planning horizon.
- Translate emerging market developments, technologies and regulatory changes into clear policy, investment and delivery recommendations.
- Shape EMCCA's transport strategies, policies and investment priorities as part of the development of the regional Local Transport Plan.
- Lead the development, funding and delivery of significant transport programmes and investment portfolios.
- Oversee the procurement and rollout of major electric vehicle infrastructure programmes across the region.
- Develop funding and investment approaches, including arrangements for allocating funding to local authorities and delivery partners.
- Lead business case development, commissioning, procurement, contract management, programme assurance and benefits realisation.
- Act as a recognised source of expertise and advice to senior leaders, elected members, local authorities, government departments and partners.
- Build strong relationships with technology providers, industry leaders, government and transport bodies to identify opportunities and influence future investment.
- Lead research, analytical and technical work to strengthen EMCCA's evidence base and support strategic decision-making.
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, while overseeing specialist consultants, contractors and delivery partners.
- Prepare high-quality reports, business cases and strategic recommendations for senior and political decision-makers.
- Represent EMCCA at regional, national and industry forums, helping to raise the Authority's profile and influence.
- Manage significant capital and revenue budgets of at least £10 million, ensuring strong financial governance, value for money and delivery against agreed outcomes.
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About you
We are looking for a strategic thinker who can combine big-picture thinking with strong programme and commercial delivery skills.
You will have extensive knowledge of transport innovation, future mobility, zero-emission vehicles and emerging transport technologies, together with a strong understanding of how market developments can influence transport policy and investment.
You'll bring significant experience of developing transport strategies, policies or major programmes within a complex public sector, political or partnership environment.
In particular, you'll have:
- Significant experience of commercial negotiation, procurement, commissioning and contract management, working with suppliers, consultants and delivery partners to achieve strategic outcomes.
- A proven ability to translate market intelligence and emerging developments into strategic policy and investment decisions.
- Experience of delivering complex programmes, including business case development, commissioning, delivery oversight and evaluation.
- Strong experience of influencing, negotiating and building relationships with senior stakeholders, including government departments, local authorities, elected members, industry representatives and technology providers.
- Experience of managing significant capital and revenue budgets and ensuring effective financial governance and value for money.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex technical, commercial and policy information and turn it into clear recommendations.
- An understanding of current and emerging legislative, regulatory and governance requirements.
- The ability to work confidently across organisational boundaries and bring diverse partners together around shared objectives.
- Experience of horizon scanning, strategic foresight and assessing the implications of emerging technologies for transport policy and service delivery would be desirable.
- Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and specialist consultants would also be advantageous.
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What you'll bring
You'll be educated to degree level or have equivalent experience in a relevant discipline and will have evidence of substantial continuing professional development relevant to transport, programme delivery, infrastructure, innovation or policy development.
A relevant professional qualification, such as MSP, PRINCE2, APM, CIHT, TPS or ICE, would be desirable, as would membership of a relevant professional body.
More importantly, you'll bring the strategic credibility, commercial awareness and leadership capability to operate confidently with senior stakeholders and help shape the future direction of transport across the region.
Why join EMCCA?
There has rarely been a more interesting time to work in transport across the East Midlands.
With transport devolution underway and EMCCA developing its first regional Local Transport Plan, you'll have the opportunity to influence policy and investment decisions at a formative stage.
You'll be working at the intersection of transport policy, technology, infrastructure, investment and innovation, with the opportunity to look beyond today's transport challenges and help shape the system the region will need in the future.
You'll also have responsibility for delivering major programmes on the ground, including ambitious investment in electric vehicle infrastructure and transport decarbonisation.
This is a role for someone who wants to think big, work with leaders in the field and turn strategic ambition into transformational delivery.
Our values
Our values shape how we work and the leadership we expect from our people:
- Lifting our region We put wider regional outcomes ahead of personal or organisational gain and act as passionate advocates for our place, policies and programmes.
- Working together We build strong relationships, provide constructive challenge and bring diverse partners together to achieve shared outcomes.
- Making an impact We set out a clear rationale for our proposals, turn ideas into action and focus on delivering meaningful, long-term improvements.
- Being human We value different perspectives, connect authentically with people and recognise the importance of putting people at the centre of what we do.
Join us
If you have the experience, ambition and strategic insight to help shape the future of transport across the East Midlands, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact.
You'll help EMCCA look ahead, shape regional policy, secure investment and deliver programmes that will influence how people and businesses move around the region for years to come.
Closing Date: 11/10/2026
Proposed Interview Date: 30/10/2026
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