Planner - Associate

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Applicants should be degree-qualified in a relevant field with a genuine interest and enthusiasm for planning.
2. A minimum of ten years experience working in the private or public sector.
3. Strong understanding of the principles of planning.
4. Adept at presentations and technical writing.
5. A problem-solver.
6. Great communication skills.
7. Creative thinker.

Description:

Typically, the role of Associate will involve working on and managing a variety of schemes, providing direct client advice on sites and projects, drafting reports and planning submissions (site assessments, policy notes, applications, development plan representations, and Environmental Statements), and assisting with the management of the team’s caseload.

This is a great opportunity to progress your career, working on a diverse portfolio of projects for prestigious clients and alongside the very best planning professionals.

Key tasks include:

1. Assisting Directors to drive forward major projects.
2. Managing medium to large-scale planning applications.
3. Undertaking research and analysis.
4. Preparing planning appraisals of land, buildings, and concepts.
5. Preparing planning reports and planning applications.
6. Liaising with planning officers, employees of consultee organisations, and third parties.
7. Liaising and cultivating good relationships with clients, colleagues, and fellow professionals.
8. Developing creative and original solutions.
9. Taking financial responsibility for medium-sized projects from inception through to completion.
10. Remaining informed about documents relating to planning policy and practice.
11. Attending external events and providing presentations.

Role reports to:

• Project Director for each project.
• Ability to be self-directed.
• Environmental impact assessment.

What you'll get back:

My client provides great opportunities for career progression, highly competitive salaries, annual bonuses, and a range of working benefits including pension contributions, private healthcare, and payment of professional fees. They have become adept at flexible working and support people wanting to work from home for part of the time, as well as from their offices in Chester (Bretton) and Manchester (Wilmslow). They recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance amongst all their colleagues and regularly review their ways of working to improve this. They hold social events each year and care about their culture. To secure their long-term future as an independent consultancy, they've recently become an Employee Ownership Trust, managed in the interests of all colleagues with specific benefits associated with Trust status including tax-free bonuses.

Team:

8-10 people, wide variety of experience.

Remote/Hybrid/Office based:

Hybrid, 3 days in the office.

Hours:

9-5.30pm, 37.5 hours.

Interview Process:

2 stages: 1 - initial interview (virtual via Teams) with one of the directors; 2 - face-to-face interview.