Director of Transport and Infrastructure

Salary: £100,993 – £119,532

Location: Crewe / Macclesfield (hybrid, with borough-wide travel)

Choose Challenge. Choose Change. Choose Cheshire East.

The Opportunity

This is a high-impact leadership role at the centre of Cheshire East’s ambitions for growth, connectivity and regeneration: a career-defining opportunity to deliver infrastructure at scale and shape the future of a major place.

As Director of Transport and Infrastructure, you will lead the council’s highways, transport and infrastructure services, ensuring the delivery of major capital programmes while maintaining safe, efficient and resilient networks for residents and businesses. Reporting to the Executive Director – Place, you will play a key role in shaping how the borough connects, moves and grows.

This is a role defined by delivery. You will take ownership of a complex portfolio that includes the Local Transport Plan, major infrastructure schemes, contract management of the highways service, and oversight of critical regeneration projects such as Crewe Station and wider rail connectivity. Working across organisational and geographic boundaries, you will bring pace, grip and clarity to delivery – ensuring that investment translates into tangible outcomes.

The Organisation

Cheshire East Council is entering a significant period of transformation and renewal. The council has recently embarked on a programme of organisational change aimed at strengthening leadership stability, modernising services and ensuring long-term financial resilience. At the same time, Cheshire East is preparing to work closely with the emerging Combined Authority, creating new opportunities to shape regional growth and collaboration.

The council is committed to building a cohesive and resilient senior leadership team capable of delivering sustainable improvement and delivering lasting impact for residents, communities and businesses across the borough.

Candidates

We are seeking a transport / infrastructure professional with a track record of delivering complex infrastructure and transport programmes within large and politically sensitive organisations. You will bring significant experience across highways, transport or infrastructure services, alongside the ability to manage major contracts, capital programmes and multi-disciplinary teams to deliver high-quality outcomes.

You will be a confident and credible leader, with the political awareness, resilience and judgement required to operate effectively within a No Overall Control environment. Strong partnership skills will be essential, as will the ability to work collaboratively with Government, regional bodies and external stakeholders to secure investment and drive delivery. Above all, you will bring the focus, energy and leadership required to turn strategy into delivery and deliver meaningful change at scale.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our retainer consultants at Penna:

Closing date: 23:59pm on Sunday 24th May 2026.

Apply for Director of Transport and Infrastructure Director of Transport and Infrastructure Job Description

"Choose Challenge.
Choose Change.
Choose Cheshire East."

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