Principal Town Planner (Policy) in Birmingham

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive.

Due to a significant increase in planning policy project wins and new opportunities, we are looking to bring in a Principal Planner to work with senior colleagues to manage our growing workload. You will be based in our flagship London Aldgate Tower office but other locations could be considered including Basingstoke, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Chesterfield, Nottingham, Plymouth and Cambridge.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Team Leadership and Development
  • Participate in the successful operation and management of the town planning team.
• Planning Strategy and Expertise
  • Lead and assist on key planning policy projects, including supporting local authority policy and strategy development, coordination and delivery of local plan evidence studies, strategic growth studies, infrastructure strategies and other policy and strategy commissions.
  • Offer strategic planning advice to other client and internal teams.
  • Provide effective representation for the organisation, developing and managing relationships with clients, local authorities and other stakeholders through project work and through attendance at conferences and other networking events.
  • Sharing technical knowledge and excellence.
• Project Management
  • Ensure projects are delivered successfully on budget and within programme timelines.
  • Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams for seamless project execution.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance
  • Oversee the deliverables produced by the planning policy team.
  • Implement and uphold quality assurance and health and safety principles.
• Business Development
  • Contribute to the business development strategy, nurturing client relationships.
  • Lead and assist in the preparation of commercial tenders to secure new opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Significant relevant experience of leading and contributing to planning policy and strategy development in a consultancy or public sector role.
• Client focus, with good interpersonal skills and a collaborative working approach.
• Existing relationships with clients and local authorities.
• A business development mindset, with demonstrable experience of work winning and developing relationships with existing and new clients.
• Degree in Town Planning or a related discipline, and membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or equivalent professional body.

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities.

Joining AECOM will provide you with opportunities for career progression within a positive culture where learning and development is actively supported and promoted.