Associate Town Planner - Associate Director - Town Planning

Penguin Recruitment Ltd; Hook Norton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment is seeking an experienced Associate Town Planner or Director to join a well-regarded independent planning consultancy in Banbury. The role offers senior responsibility, client leadership, and a pathway to shape the future direction of the business.

You will lead a broad portfolio across residential, commercial, strategic land, mixed-use and rural development, overseeing applications, guidance, and client relationships with a focus on growth and succession planning.

Qualifications

• MRTPI qualified with significant post-qualification experience.
• Strong knowledge of the UK planning system and planning policy.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and client management skills.
• Leadership experience and the ability to manage and inspire teams.
• For Director-level candidates, an established network of contacts and a proven track record of generating business.

Responsibilities

• Leading and managing a broad range of planning applications, appeals, and development projects.
• Providing strategic planning advice to a varied private sector client base.
• Managing key client relationships and acting as a trusted advisor.
• Identifying and securing new business opportunities and supporting the growth of the consultancy.
• Representing clients at meetings, hearings, and public consultations where required.
• Mentoring and developing junior and mid-level planning professionals.
• Contributing to the leadership and strategic direction of the business.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client management

Negotiation

Team mentoring

Strategy

Education

MRTPI qualified

Job description

Job Title: Associate - Director - Town Planning

Location: Banbury

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a highly regarded independent planning consultancy in its search for an Associate Town Planner or Director to join its expanding team.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced planning professional to take on a senior role within a well-established consultancy that has built an excellent reputation for delivering expert planning advice across a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, strategic land, mixed-use, and rural development projects.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in leading projects, managing client relationships, and contributing to the strategic growth and direction of the business. This position offers genuine autonomy, a collaborative working culture, and the opportunity to shape the future of a growing consultancy.

The Role:

• Leading and managing a broad range of planning applications, appeals, and development projects.
• Providing strategic planning advice to a varied private sector client base.
• Managing key client relationships and acting as a trusted advisor.
• Identifying and securing new business opportunities and supporting the continued growth of the consultancy.
• Representing clients at meetings, hearings, and public consultations where required.
• Mentoring and developing junior and mid-level planning professionals.
• Contributing to the leadership and strategic direction of the business.

Requirements:

• MRTPI qualified with significant post-qualification experience.
• Proven experience within a planning consultancy environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of the UK planning system and planning policy.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and client management skills.
• Demonstrable experience in business development and winning new work.
• Leadership experience and the ability to manage and inspire teams.
• For Director-level candidates, an established network of contacts and a proven track record of generating business will be highly advantageous.

What's on Offer:

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Excellent opportunities for career progression and long-term development.
• A supportive, entrepreneurial, and collaborative working environment.
• The opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future success of a highly respected consultancy.
• A varied and high-quality project portfolio across multiple sectors.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious Associate Town Planner or Director seeking a new challenge and the chance to make a significant impact within a thriving planning consultancy.