Principal Town Planner (Policy)

Overview

As Principal Planner, you will lead planning policy projects and guide strategy within a growing town planning team. You will shape local plan evidence, growth studies, and infrastructure strategies while representing the firm with clients and authorities. You will manage multi-disciplinary delivery, ensure on-time, on-budget outcomes, and contribute to business development. This role combines leadership, technical expertise, and stakeholder engagement to deliver high-impact planning outcomes for public and private sector clients. Join a top UK planning consultancy and influence major developments across the country.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid work options
• career progression
• competitive compensation and wellbeing programs
• inclusive culture and diversity
• disability accommodations
• global firm benefits

Responsibilities

• Lead and support planning policy projects, helping local authorities with policy and strategy development
• Coordinate local plan evidence studies, strategic growth studies, and infrastructure strategies
• Provide strategic planning advice to clients and internal teams
• Represent the organization with clients, local authorities, and stakeholders at events and conferences
• Oversee project delivery to meet budget and programme timelines
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams for seamless execution
• Ensure quality assurance and health and safety across deliverables
• Contribute to business development and tender preparation

Key requirements

• Significant experience leading and contributing to planning policy and strategy development in consultancy or public sector
• Strong client focus with interpersonal and collaborative working style
• Existing relationships with clients and local authorities
• Business development mindset with track record of work winning and client relationship growth
• Degree in Town Planning or related discipline and RTPI membership or equivalent

• collaborative mindset
• excellent stakeholder engagement
• leadership and people development
• planning policy and strategy development
• local plan evidence studies and policy coordination
• multi-disciplinary project management

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