Senior Planner in Edinburgh

This role can be based from either our Edinburgh or Glasgow office. LUC is seeking an enthusiastic and versatile Senior Planner to support strategic and development planning projects across Scotland and the UK, based in our Edinburgh or Glasgow office as part of our friendly, award-winning planning team. LUC prides itself on being able to make an impact across a range of project scales.

Our strategic planning services include a diversity of projects covering all tiers of policy development, plan-making support and evidence work as well as integrated impact assessment. We also provide research, evaluation, and training services at all levels. We prepare strategies and delivery plans in areas of green infrastructure, nature recovery and climate change which translate policy into on the ground delivery. Our strategic planning work covers climate change and energy, green infrastructure and nature recovery, agri-environment policy, Green Belt and countryside policy, the water environment, housing, minerals and waste.

Our development planning work supports a range of sectors and scales from minor improvements to public spaces, recreation and visitor facilities, education, and renewable development projects at a variety of scales (wind, grid, solar and storage). Supported by senior colleagues, this is a great opportunity to gain experience in a variety of planning projects.

We work collaboratively with LUC’s historic environment, ecology, GIS and landscape planning and management services, as well as with a range of co-consultants. We’re looking to develop project management capacity within our Senior grade in the Planning team in order to meet increasing demand for our services. Our team has never been busier as we support numerous public and private clients around the country from strategic planning and research to supporting planning applications across a range of projects which respond to the current climate and ecological crises, whilst delivering sustainable development.

The Senior Planner role will involve:

• Managing small to medium-sized projects, or supporting project managers on large projects, including attending client meetings, helping to review budgets/programme, report preparation, starting to deal directly with clients, and adherence to our quality management procedures.
• Responsibility for delegating and briefing more junior consultants and oversight of their tasks.
• Contributing to tender preparation and other business development activities.
• Building professional contacts, engaging with CPD and networking opportunities and sharing learning with wider Planning team where relevant.

The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees. The role is based in LUC’s offices in Edinburgh or Glasgow. We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.

A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Experience and qualifications

The successful candidate will support us in continuing to resource and deliver our exciting portfolio of projects to an excellent standard, we provide the ability for the individual to develop and learn, building the necessary skills and expertise to support our team of experienced planners across the UK. You will be highly collaborative, and people focussed with a positive outlook and happy to become part of a motivated team. An organised and efficient approach to completing work within tight deadlines is important, as is the ability to write clearly and accurately.

Educated to degree level, ideally in a relevant planning or environmental degree e.g., planning, geography, environmental science. Or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and expertise. In depth knowledge of environmental planning and wider policy context in the UK. Experience supporting strategic planning projects either through previous consultancy, local authority or similar roles. Research and analysis skills. Excellent report writing, attention to detail and numeracy skills. Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to building relationships with colleagues and clients. Working or willing to work towards MRTPI. Some experience of supporting, managing and/or commissioning statutory impact assessment processes such as Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Health Impact Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment. Planning application experience - supporting, submitting or dealing with applications, writing planning statements or committee reports - from a consultancy or local planning authority perspective. Knowledge of one or more of our sectoral interests, in particular climate change, renewable energy, green infrastructure, open space and/or nature recovery. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.

About LUC: LUC is an award-winning environmental consultancy celebrating 60 years of impact. Since 1966, we have been dedicated to a single mission: delivering better futures for nature, people, and places. As an independent, employee-owned business, we combine a rich heritage with a forward-looking approach. Our multidisciplinary teams – spanning planning, impact assessment, landscape design, ecology, and geospatial services – collaborate to tackle complex land-use challenges across the UK. From restoring historic environments to driving climate resilience and nature recovery, we are proud of our past. But in our 60th year, our focus is firmly on the future and driving positive change for the next generation. Our Mission is to deliver better futures for nature, people and places. Just like our founders, we’re dedicated to leaving this world in a better place. And we believe we have the power to create a positive legacy through all our projects. We do this by guiding our clients, as well as influencing national and local policy. Of course, we recognise that change is inevitable. But we also recognise that cities, towns and landscapes of the future must work to help nature recover and to create a fairer society for all. We are committed to creating beautiful, inclusive places that support the health and wellbeing of the people and environments impacted by such inevitable change.

Our Values are what make us. They reflect our heritage, express the attitudes of our people, and capture what our clients tell us we’re like to work with. Our values are timeless, informing the actions of every generation of LUC. They guide our big thinking as much as our daily working lives – from the projects we pursue, to how we manage people, to how we resolve conflicting interests. We act with professionalism and integrity. We have the courage and openness to lead. We collaborate to achieve shared goals. We act with passion, insight and creativity.