Planning Associate

TN United Kingdom; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Planning Associate in Manchester, where you'll play a vital role in shaping communities through innovative town planning. This position offers the chance to work on diverse, impactful projects, focusing on energy and infrastructure. You'll collaborate with a talented team, mentor junior members, and contribute to business growth while enjoying a supportive work culture that values your contributions. With competitive benefits and a commitment to professional development, this is an exciting opportunity to advance your career in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus schemes

Enhanced pension plan

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym membership

Annual leave options

Qualifications

• Significant planning experience, ideally in consultancy.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships effectively.

Responsibilities

• Promoting large-scale renewable energy developments.
• Leading residential and mixed-use development projects.
• Building and nurturing strong client relationships.

Skills

MRTPI qualification

project management

client relationship management

communication skills

team collaboration

Education

Degree in Town Planning

Job description

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Join our award-winning town planning team in the heart of Manchester!

Are you a driven and ambitious MRTPI qualified Town Planner with strong experience (ideally to include energy and infrastructure experience)? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where your initiative is encouraged and your contributions are valued? If so, an exciting opportunity awaits you as a Planning Associate in our Manchester office.

Our team works on a diverse portfolio of high-quality projects, making a tangible difference to communities across the UK. You'll be instrumental in planning and delivering a wide range of developments, with a growing focus on our energy and infrastructure client base, including DCO/NSIP, DNS (in Wales), and major TCPA work. You will also be involved in significant residential, commercial, and strategic site projects, fostering new and existing client relationships and playing a key role in mentoring our junior team members.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include:

Promoting large-scale renewable energy developments through various consenting regimes.

Contributing to the coordination of projects through the DCO and DNS examination processes, including potential appearances at hearings.

Leading the promotion of large to medium-scale residential, mixed-use, employment, and other developments (both brownfield and greenfield) via the Local Plan and planning applications of all sizes and types.

Conducting thorough research and site appraisals for our diverse client base.

Preparing and lodging appeals, with the potential to appear at Informal Hearings, including DCO/DNS hearings and supporting Inquiries.

Building and nurturing strong, lasting client relationships.

Actively contributing to raising the team's profile and supporting business development activities across the North-west region and with our national energy and infrastructure clients.

Effectively coordinating internal and external project teams, ensuring robust project management and quality assurance.

What You'll Bring to the Team:

Significant planning experience, ideally within a consultancy setting and with exposure to energy/infrastructure projects.

Exceptional organisational and project management skills.

A proactive interest in business growth, including managing client relationships and building a professional network.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

The ability to work independently and collaboratively on complex projects.

A personable and strong team-oriented approach.

Willingness to travel to project locations, client offices, and other company offices across the UK as required.

A full UK driving licence and access to a car.

Why Join Us?

People culture: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.

Award winning workplace: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.

Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK & Ireland - we want you to be part of it!

Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.

Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

Professional development: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions.

Ready to make a real impact and advance your career in a supportive and thriving environment? Apply now to join our Manchester Town Planning team!

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 31,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact [emailprotected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.