Planner

James & Partners; Lewes; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

27 days annual leave + public holidays

Health screening & wellbeing support

Gym & leisure discounts

Cycle-to-work scheme

Eye care vouchers

Job summary

James & Partners is recruiting for a Planner at Associate Director level in Planning, based in Lewes. The role focuses on leading planning applications, advising landowners and developers, and driving growth of a national planning team within a renowned UK property consultancy.

The package includes private medical insurance, generous annual leave, and a range of financial and wellbeing benefits. This is a permanent full-time opportunity.

Qualifications

• Chartered Town Planner with MRTPI qualification and planning delivery experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning applications, appeals and Local Plan matters.

Skills

MRTPI

Client-facing

Project management

Planning policy

Education

RTPI Chartered

Job description

Planner

Up to Associate Director level in Planning

Locations: Lewes

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits

About the Opportunity

We are working with an established national UK property consultancy with a historic reputation for combining deep local market expertise with strategic, commercially-driven planning and land advisory services. The business operates through a network of 50+ offices across England and Scotland, providing specialist support in residential, commercial, rural and strategic land sectors, and forms part of a wider global real estate group with international reach and resources.

This is a key senior planning appointment, with hiring focused in key locations including Guildford, Lewes, Cirencester and Salisbury, offering the opportunity to lead challenging and varied planning projects, shape planning strategy, and contribute to the growth of a respected national planning team.

The Role

As an Associate Director, Planning, you will be responsible for:

• Leading a range of planning applications, appeals and Local Plan matters.
• Advising landowners, developers and land promoters on planning strategy and delivery.
• Leading your own projects from inception to successful completion.
• Supporting senior colleagues with complex cases and contributing to practice development initiatives.
• Building long‑term client relationships and, over time, developing your own client base.

You will operate within a supportive, collaborative multidisciplinary environment with access to expertise in development management, estate management, strategic land and wider commercial property teams.

What We're Looking For

Essential Requirements

• MRTPI qualified (Chartered Town Planner) with demonstrable career progression and planning delivery experience.
• Strong client-facing skills with the ability to manage stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and reporting skills.
• The ability to work well within a team while managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• A proactive, commercially astute individual with a flexible, solution-orientated approach.

Competencies

• Agility in managing multiple tasks and shifting priorities.
• Initiative and self‑motivation with minimal supervision.
• Commercial awareness with a focus on delivering high standards of client service.
• Strong organisational skills, including time and budget management.
• A commitment to continuous professional improvement and quality delivery.

Person Specification

• A natural team player with the aspiration to build a strong professional reputation and local profile.
• The ability to form and maintain effective relationships with clients, colleagues, advisors and external partners.
• Strong project management skills with a track record of delivering successful planning outcomes in a timely manner.

Professional Skills & Qualifications

• Chartered membership of the RTPI.
• Excellent research and analytical capabilities.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and internet research.

Benefits Package

Health & Leisure

• Private medical insurance
• 27 days annual leave + public holidays (option to purchase up to 5 additional days)
• Health screening and wellbeing support
• Gym and leisure discounts
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Travel and retail discounts
• Volunteering opportunities
• Social events, sports teams and charity involvement

Financial & Professional

• Workplace pension
• Company car allowance
• Life assurance at 8× basic salary
• Group income protection (long-term disability)
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Bonus scheme eligibility
• Share incentive plan
• Financial planning and mortgage advice support

Why This Role Matters

This is a rare opportunity to join a truly national planning team that combines deep local insight with strategic land advisory capability, trusted by private estates, developers and institutional clients alike. The successful candidate will enjoy a high level of autonomy, the chance to work on diverse schemes across residential, mixed‑use and strategic land portfolios, and the platform to accelerate their professional profile.