Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead diverse planning projects and shape strategic planning strategies.
- Company: Join a respected national property consultancy with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in planning while building your professional profile.
- Qualifications: MRTPI qualified with strong client-facing and project management skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Locations: Guildford, Lewes, Cirencester and Shrewsbury.
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time.
Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits.
About the Opportunity
We are working with an established national UK property consultancy with a historic reputation for combining deep local market expertise with strategic, commercially-driven planning and land advisory services. The business operates through a network of 50+ offices across England and Scotland, providing specialist support in residential, commercial, rural and strategic land sectors, and forms part of a wider global real estate group with international reach and resources. This is a key senior planning appointment, with hiring focused in key locations including Guildford, Lewes, Cirencester and Shrewsbury, offering the opportunity to lead challenging and varied planning projects, shape planning strategy, and contribute to the growth of a respected national planning team.
The Role
As an Associate Director, Planning, you will be responsible for:
- Leading a range of planning applications, appeals and Local Plan matters.
- Advising landowners, developers and land promoters on planning strategy and delivery.
- Leading your own projects from inception to successful completion.
- Supporting senior colleagues with complex cases and contributing to practice development initiatives.
- Building long-term client relationships and, over time, developing your own client base.
You will operate within a supportive, collaborative multidisciplinary environment with access to expertise in development management, estate management, strategic land and wider commercial property teams.
What We're Looking For
Essential Requirements
- MRTPI qualified (Chartered Town Planner) with demonstrable career progression and planning delivery experience.
- Strong client-facing skills with the ability to manage stakeholders at all levels.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and reporting skills.
- The ability to work well within a team while managing competing priorities and deadlines.
- A proactive, commercially astute individual with a flexible, solution-orientated approach.
Competencies
- Agility in managing multiple tasks and shifting priorities.
- Initiative and self-motivation with minimal supervision.
- Commercial awareness with a focus on delivering high standards of client service.
- Strong organisational skills, including time and budget management.
- A commitment to continuous professional improvement and quality delivery.
Person Specification
- A natural team player with the aspiration to build a strong professional reputation and local profile.
- The ability to form and maintain effective relationships with clients, colleagues, advisors and external partners.
- Strong project management skills with a track record of delivering successful planning outcomes in a timely manner.
Professional Skills & Qualifications
- Chartered membership of the RTPI.
- Excellent research and analytical capabilities.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and internet research.
Benefits Package
Our client offers an award-winning benefits programme designed to support and reward employees, including:
- Health & Leisure
- Private medical insurance
- 27 days annual leave + public holidays (option to purchase up to 5 additional days)
- Health screening and wellbeing support
- Gym and leisure discounts
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Eye care vouchers
- Travel and retail discounts
- Volunteering opportunities
- Social events, sports teams and charity involvement
- Financial & Professional
- Workplace pension
- Company car allowance
- Life assurance at 8× basic salary
- Group income protection (long-term disability)
- Interest-free season ticket loan
- Bonus scheme eligibility
- Share incentive plan
- Financial planning and mortgage advice support
Why This Role Matters
This is a rare opportunity to join a truly national planning team that combines deep local insight with strategic land advisory capability, trusted by private estates, developers and institutional clients alike. The successful candidate will enjoy a high level of autonomy, the chance to work on diverse schemes across residential, mixed-use and strategic land portfolios, and the platform to accelerate their professional profile.
Associate Director Of Planning in Chesterton employer: James & Partners
Contact Detail:
James & Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director Of Planning in Chesterton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, webinars, and local meet-ups to connect with professionals in the planning sector. Building relationships can lead to job opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio showcasing your successful projects and planning strategies. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply; engage! When you find a role that excites you, reach out to current employees on LinkedIn. Ask about their experiences and express your interest in the position—it shows initiative!
✨Tip Number 4
Keep it local! Focus your job search on the key locations mentioned in the job description. Tailor your applications to highlight your knowledge of the local market and how you can contribute to the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director Of Planning in Chesterton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Associate Director of Planning role. Highlight your MRTPI qualification and relevant experience in planning delivery, as this will show us you’re the right fit for the job.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent written and verbal communication is key for this role, use your application to demonstrate these skills. Keep your language clear and professional, and don’t forget to proofread for any typos!
Highlight Your Project Management Experience: We want to see your track record of managing planning projects from start to finish. Share specific examples that showcase your ability to lead complex cases and deliver successful outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at James & Partners
✨Know Your Planning Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your planning knowledge, especially around local plans and strategic land advisory. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led and how you navigated challenges. This shows you're not just qualified but also experienced in real-world scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Client Skills
Since this role involves building long-term client relationships, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed stakeholders in the past. Think about times when you turned a challenging situation into a positive outcome—this will highlight your client-facing skills.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
This position requires collaboration, so be ready to talk about your experience working within multidisciplinary teams. Share stories that illustrate your ability to support colleagues and contribute to practice development initiatives, showing that you're a team player.
✨Be Proactive and Solution-Oriented
The interviewers will be looking for someone who can think on their feet. Prepare to discuss how you've tackled competing priorities and deadlines in the past. Highlight your initiative and any innovative solutions you've implemented to overcome obstacles.
