Associate or Associate Director - Town Planning

Stantec; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Bonus schemes

Enhanced pension

Job summary

Stantec, Cambridge, is seeking an experienced Town Planner at Associate or Associate Director level to drive major development, infrastructure and strategic planning projects. You will lead client relationships, win work, mentor junior planners and collaborate across transport, environmental services and engineering teams.

You will shape planning strategies from inception through delivery, balancing policy, environmental considerations and commercial objectives, while contributing to the growth

Qualifications

• MRTPI chartership or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Significant consultancy and/or client-side planning experience.
• Strong understanding of UK planning system and plan making processes.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Leading planning projects across a diverse portfolio of strategic planning, development and infrastructure schemes.
• Managing planning applications, appeals, Local Plan representations and strategic planning advice.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the planning process.
• Developing and maintaining strong client relationships while identifying opportunities for future work.
• Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across Stantec to deliver integrated solutions.
• Leading project teams, mentoring junior colleagues and supporting their professional development.
• Contributing to business development activities, fee proposals and tenders.
• Representing clients at meetings, hearings, examinations and public consultations where required.

Skills

MRTPI chartership

Strategic planning

Client relationship management

Leadership

Communication

Education

MRTPI chartership (membership)

Job description

Are you an experienced Town Planner at Associate or Associate Director level looking to take the next step in your career with one of the UK's leading multidisciplinary consultancies?

As we continue to grow our Planning business across the UK, we're looking for an Associate or Associate Director to join our established Cambridge team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering major development, infrastructure, regeneration and strategic planning projects while helping shape the future growth of our Planning team in the East of England.

Working alongside experts across transport, environmental services, engineering, architecture and sustainability, you'll help clients successfully navigate the planning process on some of the UK's most complex and high-profile projects.

Whether your expertise lies in residential, commercial, mixed-use, infrastructure, energy, plan making or strategic land promotion, you'll have the opportunity to influence projects and plans from inception through to delivery.

About the Role:

As an Associate / Associate Director, you'll combine technical planning expertise with commercial awareness and leadership, helping to grow client relationships, win new work and mentor the next generation of planners.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading planning projects across a diverse portfolio of strategic planning, development and infrastructure schemes.
• Managing planning applications, appeals, Local Plan representations and strategic planning advice.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the planning process.
• Developing and maintaining strong client relationships while identifying opportunities for future work.
• Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across Stantec to deliver integrated solutions.
• Leading project teams, mentoring junior colleagues and supporting their professional development.
• Contributing to business development activities, fee proposals and tenders.
• Representing clients at meetings, hearings, examinations and public consultations where required.

Your Impact:

You’ll play an important role in delivering developments and plans that create lasting social, environmental and economic value.

From strategic planning, residential growth and city regeneration through to nationally significant infrastructure and renewable energy projects, your work will help shape communities while balancing planning policy, environmental considerations and commercial objectives.

As part of a collaborative national Planning team, you’ll also help strengthen our presence across Cambridge and the wider East of England, supporting sustainable growth for both our clients and our business.

About You:

• MRTPI chartership
• Significant consultancy and/or client-side planning experience.
• A strong understanding of the UK planning system and the development and plan making processes.
• Experience managing complex planning applications and multidisciplinary projects.
• Commercial awareness with experience supporting business development and winning work.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience mentoring and developing colleagues.
• The ability to manage multiple projects while delivering high-quality client service.

Why Join Us:

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named 'Best Place to Work' and 'International Consulting Firm of the Year' at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A p professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here:Stantec Employee Resource Groups)
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK & Ireland - we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.