Planning Manager

Cognisant; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognisant is seeking a Planning Manager to join its planning team. The successful candidate will take ownership of planning workstreams for residential sites, managing planning applications and external consultants. Ideal for planners seeking client-side experience or wanting to broaden their skills in development strategy. The role promises exposure to land, decision-making, and commercial aspects of residential delivery within a supportive environment offering long-term career progression.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• Experience gained within planning consultancy, housebuilding, land promotion or the public sector.
• Good understanding of the UK planning system.
• Experience preparing planning applications and supporting the delivery of residential planning consents.
• Collaborative and personable, with the ability to engage effectively across internal and external stakeholders.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of planning workstreams across a portfolio of residential sites.
• Lead and coordinate the preparation and submission of planning applications.
• Manage external consultant teams across planning submissions and appeals.
• Undertake site appraisals reviewing planning policy and development potential.
• Influence planning strategy ensuring sites are progressed in line with business objectives.
• Liaise with local authorities and key stakeholders throughout the planning process.

Skills

Understanding of the UK planning system

Experience preparing planning applications

Collaborative and personable

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related discipline

Job description

Cognisant is working in partnership with a well-capitalised, privately owned regional housebuilder to appoint a Planning Manager into its growing planning team.

Our client has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, design-led residential developments, with an expanding pipeline across open market and multi-tenure housing. Backed by a stable platform, experienced leadership team and clear growth strategy, the business is well positioned for continued expansion and offers genuine long-term progression.

Reporting into the Head of Planning, this role will play a key part in shaping and progressing planning strategy across a live and growing portfolio of residential sites. Working closely with Land, Technical and wider development teams, you will support projects from early-stage appraisal through to consent, helping to unlock opportunities and drive schemes forward both strategically and commercially.

This is an excellent opportunity for a planner looking to make their first move client-side, stepping away from fee-earning into a broader development role with direct exposure to land, planning strategy, commercial decision-making and the full lifecycle of residential delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of planning workstreams across a portfolio of live residential sites
• Lead and coordinate the preparation and submission of planning applications, including outline, full, reserved matters and discharge of conditions
• Manage external consultant teams across planning submissions, appeals and technical workstreams
• Undertake site appraisals, reviewing planning policy, local plan allocations, housing need, constraints and development potential
• Support land acquisition and development strategy by assessing opportunities through both planning and commercial lenses
• Influence planning strategy across the portfolio, ensuring sites are progressed in line with wider business objectives
• Monitor planning application performance, appeal activity and emerging development plan policy across key operating areas
• Liaise with local authorities, planning officers, statutory consultees and key stakeholders throughout the planning process
• Support community consultation and stakeholder engagement activity where required
• Assist in the preparation of appeal statements, evidence and supporting documentation for hearings and inquiries
• Maintain planning programmes and reporting to support forecasting, delivery and strategic decision-making
• Attend project meetings, site visits and stakeholder meetings as required

Candidate Profile

• Degree qualified in Town Planning or a related discipline
• Experience gained within planning consultancy, housebuilding, land promotion or the public sector
• Good understanding of the UK planning system
• Experience preparing planning applications and supporting the delivery of residential planning consents
• Collaborative and personable, with the ability to engage effectively across internal teams and external stakeholders
• Interested in developing a broader client-side skillset with exposure to land, strategy and commercial decision-making
• Full UK driving licence

Why Consider It

This is an excellent opportunity for a planner seeking their first move from consultancy into development, or for someone already client-side looking to broaden their exposure within a well-funded and highly supportive business. The role offers the chance to step beyond purely advisory work and gain direct involvement in land, planning strategy and commercial decision-making, while working across the full lifecycle of residential development. With a strong pipeline, experienced leadership team and clear progression route, this role offers an ideal platform for planners looking to build a long-term career in development and evolve into a broader strategic role over time.