Graduate Town Planner - Water - 2026 (Reading)

Stantec Consulting International Ltd.; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consultancy in the UK is seeking a Graduate Town Planner to join their 2026 Graduate Programme. You'll work on water infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with planning requirements while gaining valuable experience in a supportive team. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's in Planning or Geography and strong collaborative skills. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits, with a permanent contract and opportunities for professional progression.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Private medical insurance

Holiday buy and sell benefits

Group income protection

Life assurance

Professional progression plan

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Town Planning or equivalent.
• Keen to work on engineering projects.
• Ability to adapt to new situations and tasks.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit planning applications for water infrastructure projects.
• Provide planning advice ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Complete detailed planning assessments for new projects.
• Draft reports supporting planning applications.
• Advise on permitted development rights and EIA screening.

Skills

Adaptability

Perseverance

Focus

Eagerness to learn

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Town/Urban/City Planning or Geography

Job description

Overview

With every community, Stantec redefines what’s possible.

Application Deadline: Recruitment is ongoing. Please apply as soon as possible as the advert may close once we have sufficient applicants.

What you will do

You will join our 2026 Graduate Programme in Reading as a Graduate Town Planner. You will contribute to environmentally driven projects that ensure the secure supply of water and comply with evolving environmental standards. You will gain experience working across a diverse range of projects within a supportive, multidisciplinary environment and be an integral part of our small, specialist planning team, working closely with experienced professionals in the wider environmental team.

Your key tasks include:

• Preparing and submitting planning applications for a variety of water infrastructure projects
• Providing expert planning advice to clients, ensuring compliance with national and local planning requirements
• Completing detailed planning assessments for new projects, including site history research
• Drafting comprehensive reports in support of planning applications and other planning submissions
• Advising on permitted development rights and progressing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening submissions

Take a look at our Water business line: Water (stantec.com), and check out the career journey of one of our current graduate planners: My Stantec Story: Building a career in planning with Joseph Lynch.

About you

At Stantec, we value your potential over past experience. Along with your Bachelor’s degree in Town/Urban/City Planning, Geography (or equivalent), and a keen interest in engineering projects, we’d love to receive your application if you are:

• An adapter: you’re able to remain calm in new and changing situations, comfortably switching between a variety of dynamic and exciting tasks.
• A Perseverer: you stay composed in the face of setbacks, approaching challenges with confidence and determination.
• A focussed individual: you focus on what matters, tuning out distractions to perform effectively in any situation.
• An Eager Learner: you learn from your experiences and the world around you, using this knowledge to anticipate how situations may unfold.
• A Collaborator: you work effectively with lots of different people, considering others’ perspectives to shape better outcomes.

Please note: we ask our graduates to come into the office 4 days per week, to ensure that you receive sufficient time with your team and the appropriate level of support.

What we can offer you

• A competitive salary
• Private medical insurance
• A range of benefits, including holiday buy and sell, group income protection and life assurance
• Permanent employment contract to demonstrate our commitment to your long-term career at Stantec
• Professional progression plan, supporting you to gain professional chartership
• A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups)

Applicants must have an unconditional right to live and work in the UK for an indefinite period without limitation.

Please take a look at our Graduate FAQs (Graduate Application FAQs) if you have any questions. We look forward to receiving your application!

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