Associate or AD - Planning Research

Cobalt Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Generous annual leave

Private medical insurance

Health Cash Plan

Colleague assistance service

CPD and learning support

Professional membership fees

Group Income Protection

Life Assurance

Family‑focused policies

Share ownership

Job summary

Cobalt Recruitment is seeking an Associate / Associate Director to lead a specialist planning analytics team in London. The role blends technical consultancy with project leadership, client engagement, and strategic growth responsibilities.

You will shape the team’s direction, oversee demographic, economic, socioeconomic, health and GIS projects, and drive new work while developing colleagues and services. Hybrid London-based position with senior responsibility.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical capability within planning environment.
• Ability to deliver demographic, economic and health analyses.
• Proven ability to manage a varied consultancy project portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small specialist team and shape the analytics offering.
• Drive business development and win new work.
• Maintain client relationships and develop services and technical capability.
• Oversee project delivery including demographics, economics, health, GIS work.

Skills

Analytical capability

Commercial awareness

People management

Project management

Client relationship management

Tools

GIS

Job description

Cobalt is working with an established independent planning consultancy to appoint an Associate / Associate Director into its specialist planning research team.

The team has grown quickly since launching in 2023 and now works with more than 100 local authorities across the UK and Ireland, alongside property developers, cultural institutions and other private-sector clients. Its work combines planning expertise with demographic, economic, socioeconomic, health and spatial analysis.

This is a newly created position within a growing consultancy, offering the opportunity to influence both the direction of the team and the services it provides.

Benefits include:

• A discretionary bonus and generous annual leave.
• Hybrid working, balancing office and remote working.
• Private medical insurance, a Health Cash Plan and colleague assistance service.
• Professional membership fees, CPD, learning support and coaching.
• Group Income Protection and Life Assurance.
• Family-focused policies.
• The opportunity to participate in share ownership.

The Role and Responsibilities

Working alongside the Executive Director, the Associate / Associate Director will become a senior and lead a small specialist team.

This is broader than a conventional analytics position. You will combine technical consultancy and project leadership with responsibility for helping develop the team, win work and shape its longer-term strategy.

The Associate / Associate Director will:

• Help shape the strategy and future direction of the analytics and research offering.
• Lead demographic, economic, socioeconomic, health, needs assessment and GIS-related projects.
• Broaden the services available to existing and prospective clients.
• Develop technical capability and strengthen quality control across the team.
• Manage projects and maintain strong relationships with clients.
• Support and develop colleagues within the team.
• Identify opportunities for new work and contribute to business development and growth.
• Bring new ideas to how the consultancy develops its services and technical capability.

The position offers considerable scope to influence how the team develops rather than simply inherit an established remit.

The Skills and Requirements

We are looking for someone operating at Associate or Associate Director level who can combine analytical knowledge with commercial and people-focused responsibilities.

You will need:

• Detailed working knowledge of analytics and research within a planning environment.
• Working knowledge of delivering analytical projects across areas such as demographics, economics, socioeconomic analysis, health, needs assessments or GIS.
• The ability to manage a varied portfolio of consultancy projects.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.Strong organisation and project management skills.
• The ability to establish and maintain client relationships.
• An interest in business development and growing consultancy services.
• The ability to support colleagues while working collaboratively within a small team.

This Associate / Associate Director opportunity would suit someone who wants to retain a strong connection to technical consultancy while taking greater responsibility for clients, people and growth.

The client is prepared to consider candidates at a scope and package reflecting the successful candidate's level. The focus is on finding the right person rather than filling the position quickly.

Location: London, with hybrid working.