Associate Planner

PropSource Consulting; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare (BUPA)

Pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Flexible working

Social events and team outings

Job summary

A leading planning consultancy based in London is seeking an Associate Town Planner or Associate Planning Director. This role involves managing planning projects, mentoring juniors, and working with various clients. The ideal candidate will have at least 6 years of experience in planning, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to engage with clients directly. The position offers a competitive salary of £50,000–£75,000 plus bonuses, flexible working hours, and numerous employee benefits like private healthcare and a pension scheme.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of planning experience within a consultancy.
• Ability to manage projects independently with minimal supervision.
• Confident engaging directly with clients and multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage planning projects from inception to delivery.
• Provide professional planning advice on commercial and residential schemes.
• Negotiate with planning authorities and key stakeholders.

Skills

Strong communication

Negotiation

Report-writing

Job description

Associate Town Planner / Associate Planning Director

Location: London | Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent | Salary: Competitive + bonus scheme (details available upon request)

The Opportunity

My client is an established and commercially focused planning consultancy based in the heart of London. With a team of over 35 professionals, they are known for their dynamic, down-to‑earth culture and wide-ranging project portfolio, covering residential, commercial, heritage, retail, and mixed‑use developments across the country.

Due to growth the team is now seeking an Associate Town Planner or Associate Planning Director. This is a key hire within, offering the chance to manage projects independently, mentor junior staff, and work across a diverse mix of clients and sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage planning projects from inception to delivery, ensuring high‑quality outcomes and client satisfaction.
• Provide professional planning advice on commercial, residential and heritage schemes across the UK.
• Negotiate with planning authorities and key stakeholders, confidently representing client interests.
• Manage and support a Planning Assistant within the team.
• Prepare, coordinate and submit planning applications, appeals and planning statements.
• Contribute to team development and project collaboration, supporting senior colleagues on larger strategic projects.
• Engage directly with clients, demonstrating initiative, commercial awareness and problem‑solving ability.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 6 years of planning experience within a consultancy; client‑side or local authority experience also considered.
• Strong communication, negotiation and report‑writing skills.
• Ability to manage projects independently with minimal supervision.
• Confident engaging directly with clients and multidisciplinary teams.

What’s On Offer

• Salary: roughly £50,000–£75,000 DOE, with annual reviews (and mid‑year reviews).
• Bonus: Consistent annual performance bonus (paid at Christmas).
• Benefits: Private healthcare (BUPA), pension scheme, and 25 days annual leave.
• Flexible working: Hybrid setup with a minimum of 3 days in the office; collaborative and sociable workplace culture.
• Career progression: Genuine long‑term opportunities to progress to equity level – several current Directors started as Planning Assistants.
• Culture: Relaxed, non‑corporate environment; regular social events including Friday lunches, after‑work drinks and team outings.
• Projects: Exposure to diverse and high‑profile clients including major retailers, housing developers, heritage and renewable energy projects.

The Ideal Candidate

You’ll be adaptable, proactive and commercially minded, capable of running projects independently while contributing to a fun, close‑knit team. This role will particularly suit someone looking for a less corporate, more collaborative planning environment, with real scope for progression and an immediate opportunity to make an impact.

Referral Bonus

Up to £500 for successful referrals.