My client is a well-established, multi-disciplinary property and design group. It brings together specialists in architecture, engineering, interior design, surveying and land sourcing under one roof, so clients get joined-up support from the first site appraisal through to completion.
Planning is central to almost everything the group delivers. It now wants to appoint a Head of Planning to lead planning across all in-house projects. Working directly with the Managing Director, you'll also help build a planning consultancy service for external clients.
This is a rare chance to own the planning function from day one. You'll shape how it works, build its reputation and grow it into a standalone revenue-generating service.
The role
- Act as the in-house planning lead across a varied portfolio, including residential, barn conversions, listed buildings and heritage, commercial, mixed-use and masterplanning.
- Give strategic planning advice from early feasibility and land appraisal through to submission, determination and discharge of conditions.
- Prepare and manage planning applications, appeals, pre-application submissions and supporting statements.
- Work closely with in-house architects, engineers and designers so planning strategy shapes design from the start.
- Build strong relationships with local planning authorities, statutory consultees and other stakeholders across Kent and the South East.
- Work with the MD to set up the external planning consultancy, including the service offering, fee structures, positioning and growth plans.
- Lead business development and work winning, including identifying opportunities, writing fee proposals and bids, and turning leads into instructions.
- Develop and look after a client base of landowners, developers, self-builders, promoters and commercial clients.
- Represent the business at networking events and industry forums, and through referral partners.
- As the service grows, build and lead a planning team.
About you
- A chartered town planner (MRTPI), with substantial post-qualification experience.
- Currently working in, or with a strong background in, private-sector planning consultancy.
- Experienced in running a varied, multi-project caseload and moving between scales and project types with confidence.
- A proven record of winning work and developing clients. You're comfortable generating fees, not just delivering them.
- Commercially minded, with an entrepreneurial streak and the drive to build something rather than simply step into it.
- Strong knowledge of national and local planning policy, with heritage and rural or Green Belt experience a real advantage.
- Knowledge of the Kent and wider South East planning landscape and local authorities would be a significant plus.
- A confident communicator who earns credibility quickly with clients, design teams and planning officers.
What's on offer
- A salary of £60,000 to £80,000 depending on experience, plus a benefits package.
- Flexible working.
- A senior, high-visibility role working directly with the MD.
- The chance to build and lead a new consultancy offering, with real influence over its direction and growth.
- A collaborative, multi-disciplinary setting where planning sits at the heart of every project.
- Long-term career progression as the planning service grows.
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Town Planner in Canterbury employer: TDM Recruitment Group
Join a dynamic and rapidly growing specialist contractor in Central London, where you will have the opportunity to develop your estimating skills across a diverse range of projects, from cladding replacements to new builds. With a flexible working environment and a clear path for career progression to Senior Estimator, this is an excellent employer that values growth and innovation, allowing you to be part of building a new team from the ground up.
