At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead diverse planning projects and provide strategic advice across various development sectors.
- Company: Established planning and environmental consultancy with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and opportunities for mentoring junior colleagues.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development and business growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on major infrastructure and development projects while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Town Planning, MRTPI accreditation, and significant consultancy experience required.
The predicted salary is between 47250 - 57750 £ per year.
About the Role
We are a well-established planning and environmental consultancy delivering planning services across a wide range of major development and infrastructure projects throughout the UK.
Our portfolio includes nationally significant infrastructure schemes, renewable energy, transport, residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, regeneration, leisure, and strategic land projects.
Working with a diverse client base across both the public and private sectors, we have built a strong reputation for delivering commercially focused planning advice on complex developments.
Continued growth has created an exciting opportunity for an experienced planning professional to join our senior team.
This role is suited to an accomplished Senior or Associate Town Planner with a proven track record of leading planning projects, managing client relationships, and delivering successful planning outcomes.
The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the continued growth of the planning team, mentoring junior colleagues, and helping to develop new business opportunities.
There is clear scope for further career progression for the right individual.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead a diverse portfolio of planning projects from inception through to completion.
- Provide strategic planning advice across a range of development sectors.
- Prepare, oversee and review planning applications, appeals, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) projects, and supporting documentation where required.
- Manage project budgets, commercial performance, programme delivery, and resource allocation.
- Lead and contribute to multidisciplinary tender submissions and fee proposals.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, local authorities, statutory consultees, and key stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities for repeat business and support wider business development initiatives.
- Ensure projects are delivered to a consistently high technical and professional standard.
- Collaborate with colleagues across planning, environmental, transport, landscape, and other specialist disciplines.
- Mentor and support junior planners, undertaking performance reviews and contributing to their professional development.
- Monitor changes in planning legislation and policy, ensuring advice remains current and commercially relevant.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Degree (or postgraduate qualification) in Town Planning or a related RTPI-accredited discipline.
- Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), or equivalent professional accreditation.
- Significant experience within a planning consultancy, multidisciplinary consultancy, or development environment.
- Strong knowledge of the UK planning system, planning legislation, and development management.
- Experience leading major planning applications and complex development projects.
- Sound understanding of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the wider planning and consenting process.
- Excellent commercial awareness, including project management and financial responsibility.
- Strong report writing, analytical, and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects while delivering work to programme and budget.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
- Experience working on large-scale infrastructure or nationally significant projects.
- Proven business development experience, including preparing successful bids and securing new work.
- Established professional network within the planning and development sector.
- Experience managing and mentoring planning teams.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant planning software.
- Personal Attributes
- Commercially minded with a client-focused approach.
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation abilities.
- Collaborative team player with the confidence to lead multidisciplinary project teams.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
- Proactive, adaptable, and solutions-focused.
- Committed to delivering high-quality planning advice and exceptional client service.
Associate Director (Town Planning) in Sunderland employer: Vivid Resourcing
Vivid Resourcing is an exceptional employer for recent graduates seeking a dynamic and rewarding career in recruitment. With a vibrant work culture that fosters ambition and competition, employees benefit from merit-based progression and the potential for high earnings through uncapped commission. Located in the heart of London, the company also offers unique incentives such as trips to Dubai and Palma, making it an attractive place for those looking to grow both personally and professionally.
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