Associate Planner | Associate Director – Town Planning

Overview

As an Associate/Associate Director Town Planner, you will lead a diverse planning workload and shape strategies for high-profile sectors. You will manage key client relationships, grow the planning team, and coordinate multidisciplinary inputs to deliver successful planning outcomes. The role blends project delivery, business development, and stakeholder engagement within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. You will work on nationally significant projects across energy, infrastructure, transport and defence, enabling you to influence planning strategy and client success.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salary
• flexible, hybrid working
• career progression
• continuous professional training and development
• robust mentoring and leadership support
• opportunity to contribute to nationally significant projects

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee a diverse workload of planning applications and supporting documentation
• Provide strategic planning guidance to private sector clients
• Shape and deliver planning strategies from concept to completion
• Own key client relationships as a trusted planning advisor
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities to grow the planning team
• Coordinate planning inputs with multidisciplinary technical specialists
• Represent clients at meetings, consultations, hearings, and stakeholder events
• Coach and develop junior and mid-level planners
• Take ownership of project delivery, commercial performance and client satisfaction

Key requirements

• RTPI Chartered membership (MRTPI)
• Town Planning degree or RTPI-accredited qualification
• Substantial post-qualification experience in planning consultancy or similar
• Strong understanding of the UK planning system, planning policy and development management
• Proven track record in managing complex planning applications across multiple sectors
• Outstanding communication, negotiation and client relationship management abilities
• Experience leading teams, mentoring colleagues, and managing multiple projects
• Commercial mindset with interest in business development and strengthening client relationships
• Familiarity with Section 36 and Section 37 applications, Development Consent Orders (DCOs) or major infrastructure projects would be a bonus

• communication
• negotiation
• client relationship management
• UK planning system knowledge
• planning policy
• development management

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