Associate / Associate Director – Town Planning
Location: Manchester / Wilmslow
Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Excellent Benefits
Hybrid Working
The Opportunity
A leading national planning and environmental consultancy is looking to appoint an experienced Associate / Associate Director – Town Planning to join its growing Manchester team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious planning professional to take a senior role within a highly collaborative multidisciplinary consultancy, working alongside experts across planning, environmental consultancy, transport and design.
The business works across a broad range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, residential, commercial and industrial, regeneration, waste and minerals, nuclear and data centres, providing exposure to complex and nationally significant projects.
The Role
As an Associate / Associate Director, you will take a leading role in the delivery of major planning projects from inception through to determination.
Key responsibilities will include:
Leading and managing medium to large-scale planning applications and major development projects.
Providing authoritative, commercially focused planning advice to a diverse client base.
Managing planning projects through all stages, including feasibility, pre-application, submission, determination and appeal.
Preparing and reviewing planning appraisals, strategies, reports, applications, representations and Environmental Statements.
Working on projects involving the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Planning Act 2008.
Coordinating multidisciplinary project teams and working closely with environmental, transport and design specialists.
Managing client relationships and becoming a trusted adviser on planning and development matters.
Taking financial responsibility for projects, including fee management, budgets, resourcing and project profitability.
Supporting and leading bid submissions, tenders and fee proposals.
Identifying opportunities for repeat business and contributing to wider business development activity.
Building and maintaining a strong professional network across clients, consultants, local authorities and other stakeholders.
Mentoring and supporting junior members of the planning team and contributing to their professional development.
Representing the business at industry events, meetings, public consultations and presentations.
Supporting the continued growth and development of the Manchester planning team.
About You
The successful candidate will be an experienced planning professional with a strong track record within the private sector.
You will ideally have:
A degree or postgraduate qualification in Town Planning or a related discipline.
Full RTPI Chartered Membership or equivalent professional accreditation.
Significant experience within a planning consultancy, multidisciplinary consultancy or similar private-sector environment.
Strong experience managing and delivering major planning applications.
Experience of EIA development and/or complex planning projects.
A detailed understanding of UK planning legislation, policy and procedures.
Strong commercial awareness and experience managing project budgets and client accounts.
Proven experience developing and maintaining client relationships.
Experience contributing to business development, bids and winning new work.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
The ability to lead projects and work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
Strong leadership, mentoring and people-management capabilities.
A proactive and entrepreneurial approach to identifying new opportunities.
Why Join?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing consultancy where your contribution can have a genuine impact on the future direction of the business.
The role offers:
Competitive salary.
Annual bonus.
Employee ownership benefits.
Private healthcare.
Pension contributions.
Professional fees paid.
Flexible and hybrid working.
Structured career progression.
Significant exposure to major UK development and infrastructure projects.
A collaborative, supportive working environment.
Regular company social events and team activities.
The Opportunity for Progression
For the right individual, this role provides genuine scope to develop into a senior leadership position within the business.
Whether you are an experienced Associate looking for the next step or an established Associate Director looking for greater responsibility, autonomy and influence, this is an opportunity to build your profile, develop client relationships and play a key role in the continued growth of the Manchester team.