Associate Director, Planning Policy

AECOM; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global infrastructure consulting firm is looking for an Associate Director to lead planning policy and strategy projects. The role involves team management, client engagement, and strategic planning. The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in leading planning policy, strong interpersonal skills, and a degree in Town Planning. This position supports hybrid working, allowing flexibility across various UK offices.

Benefits

Career progression opportunities

Learning and development support

Hybrid work options

Qualifications

• Significant experience in planning policy in a consultancy or public sector role.
• Existing relationships with clients and local authorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning policy projects and manage multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ensure projects are delivered on budget and within timelines.
• Contribute to business development strategies.

Skills

Team Leadership

Client-focused interpersonal skills

Ability to produce high-quality reports

Business development mindset

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related discipline

Membership of RTPI or equivalent

Job description

Overview

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Company Description

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world. We are one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Role: Associate Director – planning policy and strategy, with project management experience. This role involves leading planning policy projects, working with multi-disciplinary teams, and engaging with clients and stakeholders to secure successful planning outcomes. Hybrid working is supported; offices include London Aldgate, Basingstoke, Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Chesterfield, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, and Plymouth. The position can be full-time or part-time.

Key responsibilities

• Team Leadership and Development: participate in the operation and management of the town planning team; provide line management and mentorship to junior team members.
• Planning Strategy and Expertise: lead on planning policy projects, support local authority policy and strategy development, coordinate and deliver local plan evidence studies, strategic growth studies, infrastructure strategies and other policy and strategy commissions; provide strategic planning advice to clients and internal teams; build and manage relationships with clients, local authorities and stakeholders; share technical knowledge and excellence.
• Project Management: ensure projects are delivered on budget and within programme timelines; coordinate multi-disciplinary teams.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance: oversee deliverables; uphold QA and health and safety principles.
• Business Development: contribute to business development strategy, nurture client relationships; lead preparation of commercial tenders to secure opportunities.

About the team

AECOM is a top ten UK planning consultancy by size, employing over 70 Chartered or Licentiate Planners. The Planning Practice works on large, complex development and regeneration projects with colleagues across disciplines. Examples of project work include:

• Sub-Regional Spatial Plans: growth studies and evidence base for plans and policy; work on OxCam Arc, Thames Estuary, Hertfordshire, East Midlands; involvement with Garden Towns.
• Local Plans: providing local plan evidence and support for over 100 authorities in the last decade.
• Strategic Masterplans: masterplanning for Garden Communities; examples include Southern Manydown and Naas North West Quadrant.
• Neighbourhood Planning: support for neighbourhood plan making since 2011; covering scoping, evidence, stakeholder engagement, appraisal, option development, plan production, design, delivery, adoption, monitoring.

Joining AECOM offers career progression in a positive culture with learning and development support.

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience

• Significant experience leading and contributing to planning policy and strategy development in a consultancy or public sector role.

Client & Stakeholder Relations

• Client-focused with good interpersonal skills and collaborative working approach; existing relationships with clients and local authorities; business development mindset with experience of work winning and developing relationships with clients.

Skills

• Ability to produce high-quality technical reports and communicate effectively;
• Ability to work on your own initiative and under pressure.

Quality & Commitment

• High level of commitment to quality.

Education & Professional Memberships

• Degree in Town Planning or related discipline; membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or equivalent.

Additional Information

Interested in the role? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, and latest projects. For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn (annemarieflynn).

We celebrate diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability requiring reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [e-mail]. All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

About AECOM

AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm providing professional services across the project lifecycle, including advisory, planning, design, engineering, and construction management. Our teams deliver sustainable legacies with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion, and environmental, social and governance priorities. We offer hybrid work options and emphasize an inclusive, respectful workplace.