Active Travel England Chief Executive Officer

We are seeking an exceptional leader to become the next Chief Executive Officer of Active Travel England (ATE), the Government's executive agency responsible for delivering the ambitions set out in the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS3).

Walking, wheeling and cycling are increasingly recognised as essential tools for achieving wider national priorities. They improve access to jobs, education and services, support economic growth, reduce pressure on the NHS, improve air quality and help create more connected and productive communities.

ATE plays a central role in turning these ambitions into reality. As the Government's commissioning body, inspectorate and centre of expertise for active travel, ATE supports local authorities to plan, design and deliver high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure. Around 4.5 billion is expected to be invested in active travel infrastructure by 2030, with ATE providing assurance, capability-building and oversight to maximise its impact.

The successful candidate will lead ATE's contribution to delivering CWIS3's long-term vision: making walking, wheeling and cycling safe, easy and accessible everyday choices. By 2035, the strategy aims for 55% of short trip stages in towns and cities to be walked or cycled, and for 60% of children to walk, wheel or cycle to school.

Working closely with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Local Transport Authorities and the Department for Transport, the Chief Executive will lead a high-performing, evidence-led organisation that combines investment, inspection, planning and technical expertise. A key responsibility will be strengthening local capability through ATE's nationally recognised assessment framework, technical guidance, training and assurance functions, ensuring places across England can consistently deliver schemes that meet national standards.

The Chief Executive will also oversee ATE's statutory planning role, helping to ensure that new developments support sustainable, healthy and well-connected communities from the outset.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a national organisation at the heart of a major long-term programme of transport, health and economic reform, helping to shape how millions of people move around their communities every day.

The role is based at ATE's headquarters in York, with regular travel across England.

Responsibilities

• Set the vision and strategic direction of ATE, ensuring it delivers in line with Ministerial priorities and contributes to wider Government missions on health, growth, and decarbonisation.
• Lead delivery of the 3rd Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS), driving measurable increases in walking, wheeling and cycling.
• Accountable for delivery of ATEs portfolio, including grant funding, assurance activity and inspection regime, ensuring value for money and high-quality outcomes of significant public investment.
• Build partnership and capability across local authorities, strengthening planning, design and delivery of schemes through guidance, training and performance frameworks.
• Lead ATEs capability and inspection regime to drive continuous improvement and raise standards nationally.
• Act as head of the Governments centre of excellence for active travel design and delivery, ensuring consistent application of national standards.
• Provide expert advice and work closely with DFT to ensure robust sponsorship and support on policy development, standards and infrastructure investment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Ministers and senior officials across Government, local government leaders and key external stakeholders.
• Support the Active Travel Commissioner champion active travel and shaping national debate.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, inclusive organisation with a strong delivery culture and clear accountability and governance across multiple locations.
• Serve as Accounting Officer, maintaining the highest standards of governance, risk management and propriety in accordance with the Civil Service Code.

You will need to be able to show, through your application, that you have the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post, as well as the leadership skills to succeed at Director level in the Senior Civil Service.

• A strong track record of leading and delivering complex, high-profile programmes or infrastructure in a contested environment, translating ambition into clear, measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead, shape and develop high-performing, inclusive organisations, with a clear commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Exceptional influencing and relationship-building skills, with experience of working effectively with senior stakeholders such as Ministers, Mayors, Board Members and other senior stakeholders including in local government and industry.
• Significant senior-level experience in policy, delivery or regulation, with the ability to operate at system level and align multiple stakeholders behind shared goals.
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision and champion behavioural and cultural change with a wide range of audiences.