Associate Director of Town Planning

Penguin Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading planning consultancy is seeking an Associate Director (Planning) in Manchester to provide strategic oversight for their new office. The ideal candidate has significant planning leadership experience, is qualified MRTPI, and possesses strong stakeholder engagement skills. This role offers a competitive salary of £60,000 with a car allowance, along with significant influence in the consultancy's regional expansion.

Benefits

Competitive remuneration package

Strategic advisory position

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior planning leadership role.
• In-depth knowledge of the Manchester and North West planning landscape.
• Sound understanding of compliance and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for the Manchester office.
• Support recruitment and onboarding of new team members.
• Define and monitor key performance indicators for the new office.

Skills

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Autonomous decision making

Education

MRTPI qualification

Job description

Associate Director (Planning)

Location: Manchester
Salary: 60,000 + Car Allowance

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading independent planning consultancy in their search for an Associate Director to help lead the launch of their new Manchester office.

With an established reputation for delivering high-quality planning and development services across the UK, this consultancy is known for its collaborative, commercially‑minded approach and its commitment to supporting clients across a wide range of sectors.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned planning professional to help shape the direction of a new regional presence and make a significant impact during an exciting period of growth.

The Role

As Associate Director (Planning) - Non‑Executive, you will provide strategic oversight and leadership to ensure the operational effectiveness of the new Manchester office. You'll act as a trusted advisor, contribute to key decisions, and represent the consultancy in the local market.

Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder Management

• Represent the business at local events and forums.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and the local business community.

Compliance and Governance

• Ensure all office operations align with local planning regulations and internal policies.
• Provide regular progress updates to the Managing Director, highlighting key opportunities and challenges.

Recruitment and Team Building

• Support the recruitment and onboarding of the new Manchester team.
• Foster a collaborative and professional culture aligned with the consultancy's values.

Performance Monitoring

• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the new office.
• Offer strategic recommendations to enhance performance and operational efficiency.

Planning Consultancy Work

• Respond to planning enquiries and manage the full scope of planning services for clients.
• Deliver fee proposals, conduct site appraisals, submit planning applications and appeals, and advise on planning policy and development strategy.

Experience Required

• Proven experience in a senior planning leadership role.
• Strong strategic planning, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• In‑depth knowledge of the Manchester and North West planning landscape.
• Sound understanding of compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to make autonomous, well‑informed decisions.
• MRTPI qualification (essential).
• Prior non‑executive or advisory experience (desirable).

What's on Offer

• Competitive remuneration package (60K + car allowance)
• Strategic advisory position with high‑level influence
• Opportunity to shape and support a major regional expansion

Interested?

To apply or find out more, contact Josh Jones at Penguin Recruitment on (phone number removed) or email (url removed) in confidence.