Associate or Associate Director - Town Planning in Manchester

Ready to make an impact? Join our award-winning Town Planning team in the heart of Manchester as an Associate or Associate Director. Are you an ambitious, MRTPI-qualified Town Planner with strong planning experience, ideally including energy and infrastructure projects? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where your initiative is encouraged and your contributions are recognised? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Planning Associate or Planning Associate Director to join our growing Manchester team.

About The Role: Our team works on a diverse portfolio of high-quality projects, making a tangible difference to communities across the UK. You'll be instrumental in planning and delivering a wide range of developments, with a growing focus on our energy and infrastructure client base, including DCO/NSIP, ICO/SIP (in Wales), and major TCPA work. You will also be involved in significant residential, commercial, and strategic site projects, fostering new and existing client relationships and playing a key role in mentoring our junior team members.

Your Impact:

• Promoting large-scale renewable energy developments through various consenting regimes.
• Contributing to the coordination of projects through the DCO and ICO examination processes, including potential appearances at hearings.
• Leading the promotion of large to medium-scale residential, mixed-use, employment, and other developments (both brownfield and greenfield) via the Local Plan and planning applications of all sizes and types.
• Conducting thorough research and site appraisals for our diverse client base.
• Preparing and lodging appeals, with the potential to appear at Informal Hearings, including DCO/DNS/ICO hearings and supporting Inquiries.
• Building and nurturing strong, lasting client relationships.
• Actively contributing to raising the team's profile and supporting business development activities across the North-west region and with our national energy and infrastructure clients.
• Effectively coordinating internal and external project teams, ensuring robust project management and quality assurance.
• Sharing line management responsibilities for junior team members of the team, and acting as a mentor.

About You:

• MRTPI qualification.
• Significant planning experience, ideally including within a consultancy setting and with exposure to energy/infrastructure projects.
• Exceptional organisational and project management skills.
• A proactive interest in business growth, including managing client relationships and building a professional network.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively on complex projects.
• A personable and strong team-oriented approach.
• Willingness to travel to project locations, client offices, and other company offices across the UK as required.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car.

Why Join Us:

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025.
• Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025.
• Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry-leading training and development, paid professional subscriptions, and structured career progression opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals.
• We are better together: Join a supportive and collaborative team environment, working alongside industry-leading professionals across civil, environmental, transport, and building disciplines.
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK and internationally, creating opportunities for you to develop and shape your career.
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection, life assurance, discounted gym membership, and much more.
• Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid and flexible working approach.

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