Associate Director

Penguin Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading planning consultancy on the South Coast is looking for an Associate Director to join their team. The role involves understanding client needs, managing projects, and providing high-quality planning advice. Candidates should be Chartered Town Planners with a minimum of seven years' experience and strong communication skills. The position offers the autonomy to make a genuine impact in the field. Interested candidates should reach out to the hiring manager to learn more.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years' post-qualification experience.
• Enthusiasm for problem-solving.
• Willingness to learn and adapt as planning policy evolves.

Responsibilities

• Understand client needs and maintain relationships.
• Demonstrate technical excellence and apply planning expertise.
• Prepare high-quality written advice, reports, and appraisals.
• Liaise with local authority officers during planning processes.
• Support and mentor junior planners.

Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Solutions-focused mindset

Good IT literacy

Education

Chartered Town Planner

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Associate Director - Town Planning

Location: Dorset, Wareham

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a highly regarded and established planning consultancy on the South Coast in their search for an Associate Director. This opportunity is ideal for an experienced Associate seeking a fresh challenge or a Senior Planner ready to progress into an Associate Director role within a supportive and well-respected practice.

The business has built an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality planning advice and successfully guiding development projects from inception through to delivery on the ground. If you became a planner to make a genuine impact, this Associate Director position offers the platform, autonomy and variety to do just that.

The Role

As an Associate Director, you will be a Chartered Town Planner with substantive experience gained in the public and/or private sector (consultancy or client-side). Your responsibilities will include:

• Understanding the needs and motivations of clients including housebuilders, land promoters, and national, regional and local developers.
• Developing and maintaining long-lasting relationships with clients and allied professionals.
• Demonstrating technical excellence and applying planning expertise to set and deliver effective strategies.
• Preparing high-quality written advice, reports, and planning appraisals.
• Undertaking due diligence and research, preparing and submitting planning applications and appeals.
• Liaising and negotiating with local authority officers throughout the determination process.
• Participating in community engagement and consultation events.
• Managing projects efficiently while working on your own initiative within a collaborative team environment.
• Supporting, mentoring and inspiring planners, assistant planners and graduate planners.

About You

The successful Associate Director will demonstrate:

• A minimum of seven years' post-qualification experience (flexibility for the right candidate).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A solutions-focused mindset and enthusiasm for problem-solving.
• Good IT literacy, including MS Office and web-based systems.
• A willingness to learn and adapt as planning policy, legislation and best practice evolve.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car.

Interested?

The hiring manager is looking to meet with suitable candidates as soon as possible. If you meet the criteria above, please contact Josh Jones at Penguin Recruitment on (phone number removed) or email (url removed)