Job Title: Associate Director / Director – Town Planning
Location: Manchester
Company: Leading Town Planning Consultancy
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
About the Role
We are seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Associate Director / Director to join our growing town planning consultancy in Manchester. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced planning professional who can drive projects, develop client relationships, and contribute strategically to the continued growth of the business across the North West and wider UK market.
The successful candidate will play a key role in leading complex planning applications, managing a high-performing team, winning new business, and providing expert advice across residential, commercial, mixed-use, industrial, and regeneration schemes.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of planners across varying levels of experience.
- Support the senior leadership team in delivering business strategy and growth objectives.
- Manage resources, workload allocation, and team performance.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and client-focused culture.
Planning & Project Delivery
- Lead complex planning projects from inception through to determination and appeal.
- Provide strategic planning advice to private and public sector clients.
- Prepare, review, and sign off planning statements, appeals, Local Plan representations, and development appraisals.
- Manage stakeholder engagement with local authorities, consultants, communities, and statutory consultees.
- Oversee project programmes, budgets, and commercial performance.
Business Development
- Develop and maintain strong client relationships across North West England and nationally.
- Identify new business opportunities and convert leads into instructions.
- Prepare fee proposals, tenders, and presentations.
- Represent the company at networking events, conferences, and industry forums.
Market & Sector Expertise
- Maintain strong knowledge of UK planning policy, legislative changes, and market trends.
- Identify opportunities arising from regeneration, infrastructure, housing delivery, and commercial growth agendas.
- Promote the company’s profile through thought leadership and industry engagement.
Candidate Requirements
Essential
- MRTPI qualified with substantial post-qualification experience.
- Proven track record in town planning consultancy, local authority, or developer-side planning.
- Strong knowledge of the UK planning system and policy framework.
- Experience leading major planning applications and appeals.
- Demonstrable business development and client management success.
- Strong commercial awareness and financial management capability.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
Desirable
- Existing client network within Manchester / North West market.
- Experience in residential, logistics, regeneration, or strategic land sectors.
- Previous P&L or office leadership responsibility.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary + performance bonus
- Clear pathway to equity / board-level progression
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Pension and benefits package
- Opportunity to shape and grow a thriving Manchester office
- High-quality project portfolio across the UK
Ideal Candidate Profile
You will be an entrepreneurial planner who combines technical excellence with commercial instinct. Whether currently operating at Associate Director level and ready to step up, or already an established Director seeking a new platform, this role offers genuine influence and progression.