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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead planning strategy for diverse land sites and manage consultant teams.
- Company: Prominent UK strategic-land investor with a dynamic and agile approach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Shape land development from acquisition to consent and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in strategic land planning and strong stakeholder management skills.
- Other info: Autonomous role with a supportive, entrepreneurial culture.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Overview
Senior Planning Manager – Strategic Land Development
Location: Cheshire (flexible / hybrid) | Market-leading strategic land investor
We’re delighted to work exclusively with a prominent UK strategic-land investor and promoter that operates with an agile, financially strong model, acquiring land and securing permissions ahead of development. They’re now seeking an experienced Senior Planning Manager to join their growing team and lead the planning strategy for a diverse portfolio of sites.
Why this is a compelling opportunity
- You’ll work for an organisation that owns and promotes land through the planning system – offering a rare chance to shape schemes from early-stage land acquisition through to consent.
- The company is backed by significant cash reserves, enabling quick decision-making and less reliance on external funding.
- You’ll be part of a dynamic environment where your input and commercial awareness will have real impact on site-promotion outcomes and land-value realisation.
Key responsibilities
- Lead planning promotion activities across a portfolio of strategic land sites: from site appraisal, local‑plan engagement, through to submission of planning applications, S106 negotiation and securing of consent.
- Manage consultant teams (planning, technical, legal) and internal stakeholders to ensure projects progress in line with programme, budget and commercial targets.
- Provide strategic advice on land acquisitions: undertaking planning due-diligence, viability assessment, and negotiation of planning risk with the land team.
- Serve as the primary planning interface with Local Authorities, landowners, agents and other external stakeholders: presenting at committees, managing consultees and influencing strategy.
- Monitor and interpret emerging policy, Local Plan reviews, five-year land supply issues, and other planning system shifts to inform corporate land-strategy.
Candidate profile
- Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., Royal Town Planning Institute/MRTPI or equivalent) is strongly preferred.
- A proven track-record (typically 5+ years) in strategic land planning or land-promotion roles in the UK, with experience of delivering planning consents on residential or mixed-use development sites.
- Commercially aware: able to appraise schemes, understand viability constraints, manage budgets and fees, and weigh planning risk versus reward.
- Strong stakeholder-management skills – confident presenting to Councils, land-owners and other senior parties; adept at forging relationships and influencing outcomes.
- Excellent project-management ability with multiple concurrent work-streams, strong deadlines and high-stakes decision-making.
What’s on offer
- A senior role with autonomy, working at the heart of the business’s land strategy.
- A platform for career growth: the company values internal progression and offers development opportunities.
- Competitive remuneration (to be discussed) plus benefits aligned with a senior strategic role.
- Flexible working arrangements and a supportive, entrepreneurial culture.
If you’re a planning professional ready to take the next step – to move beyond the purely application-management side of planning and into strategic land promotion where your decisions drive land-value and delivery – we’d love to hear from you.
Senior Planning Manager employer: Penguin Recruitment Ltd
Contact Detail:
Penguin Recruitment Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Planning Manager
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Senior Planning Manager role.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in strategic land planning. Share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated planning applications or managed consultant teams. We want to see your skills in action!
✨Be Ready for Interviews
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of local planning policies and recent developments in the field. We recommend practising common interview questions and having a few insightful questions ready to ask them too. It shows you're genuinely interested!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s get you that Senior Planning Manager position!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your strategic land planning experience and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can lead planning promotion activities!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Senior Planning Manager role. Share specific examples of how you've influenced outcomes and managed stakeholder relationships in the past.
Showcase Your Commercial Awareness: In your application, demonstrate your understanding of viability constraints and planning risks. We’re looking for someone who can appraise schemes effectively, so don’t shy away from discussing your commercial insights!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our dynamic team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Penguin Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of strategic land development. Brush up on recent planning policies, local plan reviews, and any emerging trends in the industry. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your past experiences in strategic land planning or land-promotion roles. Be ready to share specific examples where you successfully led planning promotion activities or managed consultant teams. Highlight your track record in securing planning consents and how you navigated challenges.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since strong stakeholder management is key for this role, think of examples where you’ve effectively engaged with local authorities, landowners, or other senior parties. Practice articulating how you’ve influenced outcomes and built relationships, as this will be crucial in your discussions.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be prepared to discuss how you assess viability constraints and manage budgets. Show that you understand the balance between planning risk and reward. This insight will resonate well with the interviewers, as they’re looking for someone who can contribute to their commercial strategy.
