Associate Town Planner

Penguin Recruitment; Exeter; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Award-winning planning practice

Employee-owned company culture

Flexible studio locations

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment is seeking an Associate Town Planner in Exeter to lead planning strategies for strategic site promotion and allocations, delivering planning applications with a residential emphasis.

You will coordinate multi-disciplinary teams, develop client relationships, and manage complex projects from strategy to delivery, relying on strong UK planning expertise and MRTPI accreditation.

Qualifications

• MRTPI accreditation with significant experience within the UK planning system.
• Strong technical planning expertise in strategic land promotion and securing allocations and consents.
• Experience managing complex, major and multi-phase planning applications, including outline, detailed and reserved matters submissions.
• Strong understanding of planning policy, case law and the regulatory environment with commercially focused advice.
• Proven experience in planning appeals, Local Plan examinations and/or strategic plan-making, including Expert Witnessing.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning strategies for strategic site promotion, allocations and planning applications, primarily for residential-led development.
• Provide planning advice across a range of development sectors, from initial site appraisal through to delivery.
• Lead and manage complex planning projects, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, programmes and budgets.
• Advise clients on planning risks and post-consent implementation strategies.
• Play a leading role in planning appeals and strategic plan-making work.
• Support work-winning, bids, tenders and business development while maintaining client relationships.
• Contribute to leadership and development of the planning service and provide mentoring.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Project management

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Education

MRTPI accreditation

Job description

Associate Town Planner

Location: Exeter

Salary: £60-70,000

I'm working with a practice who is seeking an Associate Town Planner with strong technical expertise, a positive reputation in strategic site promotion, and proven experience in complex planning consents and planning-led project management. The successful Associate Town Planner will work across a portfolio of strategic site promotion projects, securing allocations and consents, developing client relationships and supporting business growth. They will lead planning inputs from strategy through to delivery, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and helping clients navigate complex planning challenges.

Requirements

• MRTPI accreditation with significant experience within the UK planning system.
• Strong technical planning expertise, with a proven track record in strategic land promotion and securing planning allocations and consents.
• Experience managing complex, major and multi-phase planning applications, including outline, detailed and reserved matters submissions.
• Strong understanding of planning policy, case law and the wider regulatory environment, with the ability to provide commercially focused planning advice.
• Proven experience in planning appeals, Local Plan examinations and/or strategic plan-making, ideally including acting as Expert Witness.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex planning matters clearly to clients and stakeholders.
• Strong project management and commercial awareness, with experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, programmes and budgets.
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial and creative approach, with the ability to build strong client relationships and contribute to business development.

Role

• Lead planning strategies for strategic site promotion, allocations and planning applications, primarily focused on residential-led development.
• Provide planning advice across a range of development sectors, project scales and stages, from initial site appraisal and feasibility through to delivery.
• Lead and manage complex planning projects, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing planning inputs, programmes and budgets.
• Advise clients on planning risks, emerging policy, planning permission flexibility and post-consent implementation strategies.
• Play a leading role in planning appeals, Local Plan examinations, Spatial Development Strategies and other strategic plan-making work.
• Support work-winning, bids, tenders and business development while developing and maintaining strong client and stakeholder relationships.
• Contribute to the wider leadership and development of the planning service, including business planning, service development and strategic initiatives.
• Provide line management, mentoring and professional support to junior planners and colleagues across the wider planning team.

Benefits

• Opportunity to join an award-winning, purpose-led planning and design practice with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Work within a creative, multi-disciplinary environment combining planning, design and environmental expertise.
• Be part of an employee-owned practice where collaboration, shared responsibility and collective ambition are central to the culture.
• Work on a varied portfolio of strategic projects across different sectors, scales and geographies.
• Play a significant role in shaping new communities, regeneration projects and development that delivers lasting benefits for people and the environment.
• Strong opportunities for professional development, career progression and increased responsibility.
• Work alongside experienced planning, design and environmental professionals on complex and high-profile projects.
• Flexible studio location options, with the role based in Oxford, Bristol or Exeter and consideration given to candidates within reasonable travelling distance of other studios.