Director of Planning

Penguin Recruitment Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid working

UK-wide base

Competitive salary

Professional development

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment Ltd invites a Director of Planning to lead its national planning and environmental consulting practice across the UK. You will set strategy, manage high‑performing teams, and secure major infrastructure projects.

This senior role offers flexible, hybrid working, significant client exposure, and opportunities to shape planning reform and development across multiple sectors.

Qualifications

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Town Planning (RTPI accredited).
• Chartered Member of the RTPI.
• Extensive consultancy experience, including leading high-performing teams.
• Proven track record of winning and delivering major infrastructure and development projects.
• Deep understanding of UK planning systems, policy and consenting regimes, including DCO where relevant.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing complex projects and client relationships.
• Established professional network and recognised profile within the planning industry.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the national Planning practice.
• Support development and delivery of the business strategy and long-term growth plans.
• Lead, inspire and develop teams across multiple regions, ensuring excellence in performance and culture.
• Drive innovation and contribute to industry thought leadership.
• Lead work-winning and business development activities, securing major infrastructure and development projects.
• Identify and capitalise on emerging market opportunities across energy, transport, water, housing and net zero initiatives.
• Build and maintain a strong external profile to enhance market positioning and industry presence.
• Strengthen key client relationships and support continued expansion of the business.
• Act as Lead Director on major client accounts and flagship projects.
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality planning advice across complex, multidisciplinary commissions.
• Ensure strong commercial performance, governance and risk management.
• Provide technical excellence and strategic direction across projects.
• Work collaboratively across planning, environmental, engineering and design teams.
• Promote integrated project delivery and cross-disciplinary working.
• Support the development of innovative solutions to complex planning challenges.
• Lead, mentor and develop teams across the UK.
• Support career development and succession planning initiatives.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Support the recruitment and retention of top talent.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Business development

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Client relationship management

Education

RTPI-accredited degree in Town Planning

Chartered RTPI member

Job description

Job Title: Director of Planning
Location: UK Wide Offices Throughtout the UK

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading global multidisciplinary consultancy in the search for an experienced Director of Planning to join its national Planning and Environmental Consulting business.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished planning professional to take on a pivotal leadership role within one of the world's leading consultancies, helping to shape the future of sustainable infrastructure and development across the UK.

The successful candidate will play a strategic role in growing and developing the national planning offer, leading high-performing teams, driving business growth, and influencing industry thinking on planning reform, infrastructure delivery and the future of the built environment.

The Opportunity

Operating as part of a highly collaborative national planning team, you will work across a broad range of sectors including energy, transport, water, housing, regeneration and major infrastructure projects. The role can be based anywhere in the UK and offers the opportunity to work alongside senior leaders across planning, environment, engineering and design disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic leadership to the national Planning practice.
• Support the development and delivery of the business strategy and long-term growth plans.
• Lead, inspire and develop teams across multiple regions, ensuring excellence in performance and culture.
• Drive innovation and contribute to industry thought leadership.

Business Growth

• Lead work-winning and business development activities, securing major infrastructure and development projects.
• Identify and capitalise on emerging market opportunities, including energy, transport, water, housing and net zero initiatives.
• Build and maintain a strong external profile to enhance market positioning and industry presence.
• Strengthen key client relationships and support the continued expansion of the business.

Client & Project Delivery

• Act as Lead Director on major client accounts and flagship projects.
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality planning advice across complex, multidisciplinary commissions.
• Ensure strong commercial performance, governance and risk management.
• Provide technical excellence and strategic direction across projects.

Collaboration

• Work collaboratively across planning, environmental, engineering and design teams.
• Promote integrated project delivery and cross-disciplinary working.
• Support the development of innovative solutions to complex planning challenges.

People & Culture

• Lead, mentor and develop teams across the UK.
• Support career development and succession planning initiatives.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Support the recruitment and retention of top talent.

Requirements

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Town Planning (RTPI accredited).
• Chartered Member of the RTPI.
• Extensive consultancy experience, including leading high-performing teams.
• Proven track record of winning and delivering major infrastructure and development projects.
• Deep understanding of UK planning systems, policy and consenting regimes, including DCO experience where relevant.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing complex projects and client relationships.
• Established professional network and recognised profile within the planning industry.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

What's on Offer

• A strategic leadership role within a globally recognised consultancy.
• The opportunity to influence the future direction of planning and infrastructure delivery across the UK.
• Exposure to nationally significant and high-profile projects across multiple sectors.
• Excellent career progression and professional development opportunities.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements with a UK-wide base.
• Competitive salary and an excellent benefits package tailored to support your health, wellbeing and lifestyle.
• A collaborative, inclusive and forward-thinking working environment.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced planning leader to join a market-leading global consultancy and play a key role in shaping the future of planning, infrastructure and sustainable development across the UK.