Graduate Planner / Assistant Planner / Planner

Our small Canadian-born business was founded in 1978 and has become a global organization that now spans 120 locations across 20 countries. Our expansion has been rapid, but what matters most is the common belief that drives all 5,000 of our people to be a different type of real estate organization. We believe that the places in which we live, work and play have the power to make us happier and healthier, and we are united by a shared sense of purpose, to have a positive impact on people’s lives. In short, we are a global commercial real estate advisory firm with a simple aim: for real estate to play a leading role in creating vibrant buildings, cities and places that deliver long-lasting social value and economic impact.

Why Work for Us:

We believe that our industry is changing, and we want our business to be a melting pot of curious minds, passionate hearts and strategic intelligence. Your gender, religion and race are all highly respected, but are less important to us than your ability to step up and change the game. We provide you with a place where you can do just that, with like-minded people. Collaboration is embedded in the way we work – our people have the autonomy to collaborate on client relationships, engage teams across the business, lead operations, work collectively on projects, participate in strategy and are ultimately responsible for our growth. Our distinctive Principal-led, privately-owned model puts us in the enviable position of being able to offer every employee the opportunity to own a share of our business and inspires and allows anyone to become a Principal. This role carries voting rights, so our people have a very real say in the future direction and operation of our business. This means that we are able to attract, engage and retain the best talent from the industry.

Responsibilities:

• Working as part of an experienced and driven team, to deliver outstanding planning advice on a wide range of development projects and issues.
• Providing first-rate support to more senior members of the team on complex projects.
• Providing first rate advice and support to other parts of the business.
• Initially assisting with and then managing planning instructions that will become increasingly complex over time as the candidates skills and confidence grow.
• Diligent and timely research and analysis.
• Advice that assists in formulating development proposals which meet the Client’s requirements.
• Advice that assesses and weighs the opportunities and risks presented by the planning system.
• Recommendations on strategies and programmes for managing local development plan and planning application processes, and for undertaking appropriate and proportionate action required to address material planning considerations.
• The assembly and management of external consultant teams and internal advisers.
• Diligent and sensitive liaison with local planning authorities and third parties (eg statutory consultees, interested people and organisations).
• Regular and frequent reporting to the Client.
• Communication of proposals and argument electronically, by paper or verbally.
• Negotiations on behalf of the Client enabling achievement of the optimum outcome.
• Adherence to agreed programmes for the delivery of project outputs and advice.
• Regular and frequent assessment of risks which might impact upon meeting Client objectives.
• A business-like approach to invoicing and debt management.

The above list summarises main responsibilities to be carried out in the role but is not exhaustive. You may be asked to carry out additional activities.

Qualifications:

• A member or working towards being a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Planning & Development Surveyor).
• Inquisitorial and a problem solver.
• Highly analytical and numerate.
• A good verbal communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good at report writing and presentation.
• Ambitious and enthusiastic.

The following attributes are desirable:

• Practical experience of both development management and development plan processes.
• Private planning practice or public sector (local planning authority) experience.

Equal Opportunities:

At Avison Young, we’ve always put people at the heart of what we do. In the last few years, we’ve increased the diversity at our board, leadership and Principal levels. Avison Young stands out for our commitment to empowering women. In addition to increasing the number of women on our board and in our leadership ranks, our internal Women’s Network of more than 500 members come together for networking and learning, and advise the business on strategies for promoting access, opportunity and inclusion in our industry. Our global DEI steering committee shapes our strategy to continue to increase industry access for underrepresented groups and accelerating initiatives led by our employee resource groups, including our Women’s Network, Black Professionals and LGBTQ+ groups. In addition to leading global initiatives, the steering committee’s work examines our policies and practices, creating accountability for results and communicating progress to our executive leadership, our clients and our communities. Our culture is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion, and well-being. We are committed to building an inclusive culture that empowers all our employees to thrive, reflects all backgrounds and talents, allows individuals to be successful and feel a sense of belonging, and foster a workplace that is supported, inclusive and has a strong sense of community between colleagues. Avison Young is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to treating all its employees and job applicants equitably. This includes implementing deliberate strategies that advance underrepresented communities in commercial real estate careers. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to removing any obstacles to inclusion. If you need any adjustments to support your application or any part of the recruitment process, such as information in alternative formats or special requirements to access our buildings, or you are eligible under the Disability Confident Scheme please contact us at careers.uk@avisonyoung.com and we will do everything we can to help. We are committed to inclusion in our hiring processes, and we want to give everyone a chance to show what they can bring to our organisation. If you are not sure that you have all the skills in the person specification, please still apply. We value passion and potential in our employees, so it would be great to hear from you and why you would suit this position. Some of our roles may be remote and some roles may be specific to our offices, but you will need to confirm you have the right to work in the UK.