Associate or Associate Director - Town Planning

Stantec; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus schemes

Enhanced pension plan

Private medical insurance

Hybrid / flexible working

Job summary

Stantec is seeking an ambitious Planning Associate or Associate Director in Manchester to join our Town Planning team. MRTPI-qualified professionals with strong planning experience and energy/infrastructure exposure are invited to apply.

The role involves mentoring juniors, leading high‑quality developments, and expanding client relationships across the UK. You will work on a diverse portfolio, including DCO/NSIP processes, Local Plans, and a range of brownfield and greenfield sites, while

Qualifications

• Significant planning experience with consultancy exposure preferred.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and project management abilities.
• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to business development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver planning projects across energy, infrastructure, residential, commercial sectors.
• Coordinate with internal and external teams to ensure robust project delivery.
• Build and maintain client relationships and contribute to business development across the region.

Skills

Planning experience

Client relationship management

Mentoring junior staff

Energy/infrastructure exposure

Education

MRTPI qualification

Job description

The Opportunity

Ready to make an impact? Join our award‑winning Town Planning team in the heart of Manchester as an Associate or Associate Director.

Are you an ambitious, MRTPI‑qualified Town Planner with strong planning experience, ideally including energy and infrastructure projects? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where your initiative is encouraged and your contributions are recognised? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Planning Associate or Planning Associate Director to join our growing Manchester team.

About The Role

Our team works on a diverse portfolio of high‑quality projects, making a tangible difference to communities across the UK. You will play an instrumental role in planning and delivering a wide range of developments, with a growing focus on our energy and infrastructure client base, including DCO/NSIP, ICO/SIP (in Wales), and major TCPA work. You will also be involved in significant residential, commercial, and strategic site projects, fostering new and existing client relationships and playing a key role in mentoring our junior team members.

Your Impact

• Promoting large‑scale renewable energy developments through various consenting regimes.
• Contributing to the coordination of projects through the DCO and ICO examination processes, including potential appearances at hearings.
• Leading the promotion of large to medium‑scale residential, mixed‑use, employment and other developments (both brown‑field and green‑field) via the Local Plan and planning applications of all sizes and types.
• Conducting thorough research and site appraisals for our diverse client base.
• Preparing and lodging appeals, with the potential to appear at informal hearings, including DCO/DNS/ICO hearings and supporting inquiries.
• Building and nurturing strong, lasting client relationships.
• Actively contributing to raising the team's profile and supporting business‑development activities across the North‑west region and with our national energy and infrastructure clients.
• Effectively coordinating internal and external project teams, ensuring robust project management and quality assurance.
• Sharing line‑management responsibilities for junior team members and acting as a mentor.

About You

• MRTPI qualification.
• Significant planning experience, ideally including work in a consultancy setting with exposure to energy/infrastructure projects.
• Exceptional organisational and project‑management skills.
• A proactive interest in business growth, including managing client relationships and building a professional network.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively on complex projects.
• A personable and strong team‑oriented approach.
• Willingness to travel to project locations, client offices, and other company offices across the UK as required.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car.

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, paid professional subscriptions, and structured career progression opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals.
• We are better together: Join a supportive and collaborative team environment, working alongside industry‑leading professionals across civil, environmental, transport and building disciplines.
• Growth: We’re on an exciting growth journey across the UK and internationally, creating opportunities for you to develop and shape your career.
• 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, discounted gym membership and much more.
• Hybrid / flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work‑life balance with our hybrid and flexible working approach.

Discover more about life at Stantec in the UK & Ireland: My Stantec Stories

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 32,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, while also looking at how we can deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world‑class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made, please contact [email protected] we will talk to you about how we can support you.

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