Transport for London

Strategic Analyst - Modelling

Job Description

About us

City Planning will shape London’s future; providing strategic direction through the London Plan and the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (2018) to improve the city’s transport offer, enable its future growth and secure better health and environmental outcomes. Working at the heart of TfL, we will support our organisation to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, providing robust analysis, clear advice and innovative solutions. We will operate as a single integrated function, speaking with one voice on all planning and transport matters, providing clarity and direction for the Capital’s success.

Strategic Analysis is at the heart of City Planning, providing the analysis and evidence that underpins all of our strategy, policy and project development work. With a team of around 40 people, the department leads on the development and use of TfL’s suite of strategic transport models, conducts the London Travel Demand Survey, produces the annual Travel in London report and leads the production of transport analysis studies for Opportunity Areas, large scale developments and major transport schemes. We include specialists in scenario planning, GIS and air quality analysis amongst many other disciplines. During the COVID-19 crisis we have been very active developing scenarios for future travel in London and applying our tools to help answer some new and challenging questions. Examples of our work can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/travelinlondon.

Overview of role

Uncertainty brought about by the pandemic has made forecasting future public transport demand a priority for TfL and for London. Demand for transport and travel behaviour in London could change significantly from previously established trends built up over the last 20 years

As the Strategic Analyst, you will contribute to analysis evaluating the effectiveness and impacts of multi-modal strategic transport interventions, policies & strategies using a wide range of analytical & statistical methods, mathematical modelling, data science techniques, surveys, research & Geographic Information Systems. 

You will provide colleagues with critical   information on current travel trends, progress towards the goals in the Mayor's Transport Strategy, data to inform policy decisions, future travel demand forecasts and modelling which materially affect key business decisions on TfL's strategic direction & its multi-billion-pound investment programme.

A core part of the team’s work is the application, maintenance and development of MoTiON, TfL’s multi-modal demand model, and Railplan, TfL’s public transport assignment model. Two roles are available, one focussing on multi-modal demand modelling and the other on public transport assignment modelling. Our models are used to assess the impact of population and employment growth, economic and behavioural change and transport schemes on multi-modal transport demand. They are used to identify problems that need to be addressed in pursuit of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy goals, and to test policy and transport infrastructure interventions to help TfL meet these goals. MoTiON has been used extensively over the past year to forecast then evaluate pandemic demand, and post-pandemic future travel scenarios for London.

Key Accountabilities

1. Assist in delivering projects relating to TfL's strategic transport models, particularly demand and land-use models. Making connections between complex sets of data and models to drive understanding of transport trends and influence future policies, programmes, scheme development and multi billion-pound investment decisions.

2. Provide relevant, timely, informed, innovative and high-quality business critical professional advice, data, modelling & analysis to influence strategy and investment decisions relating to the Mayor's Transport Strategy for City Planning's Leadership Team.

3. Assist with the provision of the specification, design, delivery, interpretation and dissemination of complex mathematical models, data and analysis to time and to budget using innovative techniques to meet emerging policy needs.

4. Contribute to matrix teams supporting project requirements.

5. Work effectively & collaboratively with stakeholders inside & outside TfL & support the provision of professional advice through briefings, reports & or evidence on work areas to City Planning Leadership Team & provide information to the media and to Assembly Members in response to Mayor's Questions & the public in response to Freedom of Information requests.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Skills

• Analytical skills with specialist skills in variable demand modelling and/or public transport assignment modelling, ideally using CUBE Voyager and/or EMME as well as an understanding of demand modelling principles, process and application.
• An understand of the Department for Transport’s Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) and its practical application.
• Communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information in everyday language (practitioner)
• Skills in programmes such as R and Python are desirable but not essential
• Skills in GIS and the application of 3D data visualisation tools is desirable but not essential.

Knowledge

• A first degree (& preferably a second) in a relevant discipline or a proven equivalent level of experience

• Knowledge of appraisal and evaluation process and strategic transport modelling methods, particularly multi-modal demand models – ideally using CUBE Voyager.
• Very good knowledge of data required to support models & analysis. Knowledge of statistical methods and relevant software is desirable.
• Knowledge and application of GIS
• An understanding of project management and procurement processes
• An understanding of current traffic and transport policies and issues within London.

• An understanding of the short and long term transport challenges in London.

• A knowledge of the influences on travel behaviour and of transport, health and environmental challenges.
• Some understanding of the workings of large organisations and the public policy making process.
• A basic understanding of best practice approaches to transport strategy development

Experience

• Experience of working on analytical / modelling studies to inform policy, strategy and scheme development.
• Some experience of the public policy process
• Experience of undertaking work programmes to required standards, budgets and timescales.
• Experience of the dissemination of research, modelling & analysis using reports, graphics, presentations & orally
• Some experience of dealing with and briefing senior managers
• Experience of working with third party consultants or on consultancy side working with clients (beneficial)

Equality and Diversity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability status.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of TfL’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and covering letters that could cause discrimination.

Application Process

Please apply using your CV and a two page covering letter (Word format preferred).

Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and cover letter.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 5th September 2021 @23:59

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
• A 75% discount on National Rail Season Ticket and interest free loan
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel

Eligibility – Internal employees

Probation:
In line with our Resourcing Policy (Feb 2014), internal employees are required to complete their probationary period before applying for internal TfL positions. Please ensure you have successfully completed your probation before submitting an application for this role, otherwise your application may be withdrawn.

Formal warnings:
Internal employees with any current formal warnings are not eligible to apply for internal TfL vacancies until expiry of the warning. Ineligible applications may be withdrawn. Details of what is defined as a current formal warning can be found on Platform: https://transportforlondon.sharepoint.com/sites/Instructions-and-guidance-people-performance-and-rewards/SitePages/Formal-warnings.aspx

NPL Applications

Applications to internally advertised roles can only be accepted from temporary workers who are on PAYE terms via agency, or PAYE via Umbrella Companies. Temporary workers who are paid through their own limited companies are not covered by the Agency Worker Regulations and are ineligible to apply.

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