Associate / Associate Director – Infrastructure Planning

Overview

As Associate Director, you lead planning and consenting for major UK infrastructure projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams and strengthening client relationships. You will shape strategy across DCOs and other regimes, ensuring delivery to time, budget, and quality. The role sits at the heart of a growing national Infrastructure Planning team working on energy, airports, ports, and highways. You will influence projects and contribute to sustainable growth through expert planning leadership.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working
• competitive salary
• bonus schemes
• enhanced pension plan
• private medical insurance
• life assurance

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and consenting elements of major infrastructure projects (DCOs and other regimes)
• Provide strategic planning, consenting and EIA advice throughout project lifecycles
• Manage complex planning projects to programme, budget and quality
• Act as trusted adviser to clients and build long-term relationships
• Lead project teams and collaborate across planning, EIA and technical disciplines
• Support business development through proposals and client presentations
• Provide technical leadership and mentor junior colleagues
• Keep updated on changes to planning policy, legislation and consenting regimes
• Travel nationally to support projects, clients and teams

Key requirements

• MRTPI qualification or equivalent
• Proven track record leading and managing complex planning projects (DCOs or major regimes)
• Strong knowledge of UK planning and infrastructure consenting landscape
• Experience providing strategic planning and consenting advice to clients
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement
• Strong project management with ability to manage workloads and priorities
• Proactive, commercially aware and results-oriented
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams
• Experience mentoring or leading other professionals
• Willingness to travel nationally

• Strong communication skills
• Relationship-building
• Leadership and mentoring
• DCOs and major infrastructure consenting regimes
• Strategic planning and EIA
• UK planning policy and consenting processes

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