DCO Planning Director in Leeds

Hybrid working is offered (2-3 days in the office and the other days remote) with home office in either London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds. Other locations considered for the right candidate.

Are you motivated to play a crucial role in advising and securing approvals for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and ensuring smooth project progression? If this sounds like you and you’re curious to learn more, then this role could be the perfect opportunity. Join our Impact Assessment Team as our DCO Planning Director for NSIPs and work with us to close the gap to a sustainable future.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the planning team at Ramboll and take ownership of the Development Consent Order (DCO) process. Reporting to the Head of Department, you will lead DCO projects and have experience of achieving Consent by leading project teams and utilising experience across a range of services and sectors. You will have deep technical expertise, disciplined leadership, and as a client-facing role, you will be responsible internally and to our clients for the quality, delivery and performance of your discipline aligned with Ramboll’s strategic ambitions.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Leading NSIP projects through the DCO process, providing technical advice to clients and managing their consenting requirements.
• Leading on complex negotiations with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients.
• Acting as Planning Expert Witness at DCO examinations.
• Owning the delivery and performance of your discipline.
• Having a strong understanding of project finances, being accountable for financial metrics and overall business results, and reporting on this monthly.
• Preparing and implementing a comprehensive business plan to facilitate the delivery of strategy.
• Line management / mentoring colleagues by supporting them in their work project delivery roles.
• Be an ambassador to the company — be the face of your discipline and our offering.
• Staying up to date with best practices and innovation within your discipline.
• Proactively engaging with clients: build relationships, identify opportunities and win work.
• Be a champion for sustainable development, finding opportunities beyond the brief to improve our projects and working with clients for implementation.
• Build your internal and external network.
• Collaborate closely with other disciplines within Ramboll.

You will join our Impact Assessment Team, comprising qualified Town Planning and environmental experts and be part of a diverse group of professionals with varied backgrounds and shared ambition.

From the moment you start at Ramboll, we will support your personal and professional development so that you can continue to grow with the company. The ideal candidate is MRTPI qualified, a technically strong, client-oriented leader with proven experience in obtaining consent for NSIPs with a solid understanding of the DCO process. You will be conversant with consents management, environmental permitting, or regulatory compliance, comfortable with clients, leading discipline teams, and shaping projects that deliver measurable value and sustainable impact.

These Include:

• Minimum 15 years’ experience, and at least 5 years in a role where you were responsible for delivering the discipline and managing a team.
• Experience leading large project teams and/or coordinating across multiple projects, and the integration of the NSIPs consenting process with others in multidisciplinary environments.
• A good general knowledge of the environmental and sustainability market and an in-depth knowledge of key sectors.
• Proven experience in developing business relationships and leveraging market opportunities.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Chartered professional (most likely MRTPI).
• Proactive and energetic, with the mindset to grow work for your discipline.
• Structured thinker with strong prioritisation, coordination and team leadership skills.
• Technical expertise within your discipline.
• Commercially aware, focused on value creation for clients.
• Collaborative mindset, working across technical teams and within your department.
• Demonstrated commitment to sustainability in design and delivery.

What we can offer you:

• Commitment to your development.
• Leaders guided by our Leadership Principles.
• A culture that welcomes you as the unique person you are.
• Inspiration from colleagues, clients, and projects.
• The long-term thinking of a foundation-owned company.

Ready to join us? Please submit your application. Be sure to include all relevant documents including your CV, cover letter, salary expectations, etc. Thank you for taking the time to apply! We look forward to receiving your application.

Work at the heart of sustainable change with Ramboll. Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and consultancy company. As a foundation-owned people company, founded in Denmark, we believe that the purpose of sustainable change is to create a thriving world for both nature and people. So, that’s where we start – and how we work. Our history is rooted in a clear vision of how a responsible company should act and being open and curious is a cornerstone of our culture. Ramboll employs more than 18,000 people globally across 35 countries. Ramboll experts deliver innovative solutions across Buildings, Transport, Water, Environment & Health, Energy, Management Consulting, and Architecture & Landscape. Combining local experience with global knowledge, we help shape the societies of tomorrow.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of what we do. At Ramboll, we believe that diversity is a strength and that different experiences and perspectives are essential to creating truly sustainable societies. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive work environment where everyone is able to flourish and reach their potential. We also know how important it is to achieve the right balance of where, when, and how much you work. At Ramboll, we offer flexibility as part of our positive and inclusive approach to work. We invite applications from candidates of all backgrounds and characteristics. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to the application process to make it more comfortable for you. You can contact us at job.advert.accessibility@ramboll.com with such requests.