Planning & Land Manager (Major Projects) (Bradford)

Yorkshire Water; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional water utility provider in Bradford is seeking a Planning and Land Manager to support major strategic projects exceeding £2.5 billion. The role involves providing strategic planning and land-rights advice while managing external consultants and engaging with stakeholders. Candidates should have professional membership of a relevant body and proven experience in securing planning permissions. A competitive salary and a range of benefits are on offer, alongside a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Annual incentive bonus up to 10%

Private health care

Attractive pension scheme

Gym membership discounts

Extra wellness day

Qualifications

• Professional membership of the RTPI and/or RICS.
• Proven experience securing planning permission and/or land rights for major projects.
• Sound knowledge of planning application process and land-rights acquisition.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic town-planning advice to mitigate planning risk.
• Instruct and manage external consultants for planning and land acquisition.
• Liaise with stakeholders to secure planning permission and land rights.

Skills

Professional membership of the RTPI and/or RICS

Proven experience securing planning permission and/or land rights

Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements related to planning

Excellent negotiation skills

Strong customer-service skills

Ability to work under pressure

Competence with IT systems

Job description

Location & Working

Bradford, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire, UK (Hybrid Working: one to two office days per week, travel across Yorkshire to sites or stakeholder locations).

About Yorkshire Water

Water Utility Company based in Yorkshire region of England. We make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit the region each year can rely on our services, have clean and safe drinking water on tap, and have their wastewater taken away. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water today, tomorrow and 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing and prosperity.

Salary & Benefits

Competitive salary up to £64,000 depending on experience. Company car lease or allowance scheme (£2,510 cash allowance). Annual incentive related bonus up to 10 % of annual salary. Private health care (self‑only). Attractive pension scheme up to 10 % company contribution. Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary. 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and an extra wellness day! Extra benefits include a health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover, retail savings scheme, online GP service, cycle‑to‑work scheme, gym membership discounts, and many more.

Position Overview

Planning and Land Manager (Major Projects) – part of the Land and Property team, supporting the delivery of strategic resource option (SRO) major projects. Project value exceeds £2.5 billion, with executive‑level stakeholder engagement within both Yorkshire Water and Ofwat. Reporting to the Senior Town Planning Manager, the role delivers strategic town‑planning and land‑rights advice, manages external consultants, ensures good customer service, minimises risk and cost, and leads stakeholder engagement for planning and land‑rights processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic town‑planning advice, including Development Consent Orders (DCO) and Town and Country Planning applications, to mitigate planning risk and deliver excellent customer service.
• Provide strategic land‑rights acquisition advice, including statutory powers, Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) and DCO, to minimise risk, reduce cost and support the business strategy.
• Instruct and manage external planning and land acquisition consultants, liaise regularly, review performance, monitor value for money and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
• From inception to completion, liaise with Yorkshire Water project teams, design and construction partners, local authorities, stakeholders and landowners/agents to secure relevant planning permission and land rights.
• Provide strategic advice to project teams on scheme design, planning and land risks and associated mitigation.
• Contribute to RAPID Gated Process reports and requests from Ofwat or other regulators.
• Review planning application and land‑rights acquisition documents prepared on behalf of Yorkshire Water to ensure they meet business processes, reporting and assurance requirements.
• Liaise with project managers and construction partners to progress SRO projects in line with programme and budget, capturing all risks on the Risk Register.
• Provide strategic advice on implementing biodiversity net gain (BNG) for SRO projects to minimise costs and risk, supporting the Technical Specialist (Ecology and BNG) and the project environmental advisor.
• Drive high standards, behaviours and performance in Health & Safety, Risk Management and conduct at work, ensuring compliance with Yorkshire Water safety policy.

Qualifications & Skills

• Professional membership of the RTPI and/or RICS.
• Proven experience securing planning permission and/or land rights for major infrastructure projects.
• Sound knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements relating to the planning application process (including DCO and Town and Country Planning Act) and to land‑rights acquisition (including Yorkshire Water Code of Practice, CPO, DCO and statutory powers).
• Track record of delivering results against challenging targets with excellent negotiation skills.
• Demonstrable ability to develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, using excellent customer‑service skills.
• Ability to deal with agile prioritisation and realignment of priorities as project needs evolve.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, meet tight timescales, prioritise and manage time effectively.
• Clear demonstration of Yorkshire Water behaviours and strong competence with IT systems.

Additional Information

All roles are subject to pre‑employment checks, including a Basic Disclosure Check and, where required, security vetting for a Counter‑Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance. Medical questionnaire and further medicals may be required.

Facilities for flexible working patterns and job‑share options are available where possible.

We are committed to removing barriers to recruitment and will discuss reasonable adjustments for accessibility needs.

Closing date for this role is Sunday 7th September 2025. No agencies please. The Kelda Group reserves the right to close the position before the published closing date.