Principal | Associate Planner

Penguin Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading multi-disciplinary consultancy is seeking a Principal / Associate Spatial Planner in Manchester. This role involves working on significant infrastructure projects, contributing to regional growth strategies, and collaborating with various stakeholders to deliver effective planning solutions. With opportunities for career progression and professional development, you'll join a respected team in the industry with a strong reputation for excellence.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in spatial or strategic planning.
• Strong track record in planning and regeneration across North West and Yorkshire.
• Deep understanding of planning policy and funding mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of local plans and regional strategies.
• Provide high-level advice on planning policy and funding bids.
• Engage in business development and support team growth.

Skills

Client-facing

Communication

Project Leadership

Education

RTPI Chartered Town Planner

Job description

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Client:

Penguin Recruitment

Location:

Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

da64fcbf0ace

Job Views:

3

Posted:

02.07.2025

Expiry Date:

16.08.2025

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Job Description:

Principal / Associate Spatial Planner – Northern England Focus
Location: Manchester, Leeds or surrounding areas
Salary: £55,000 – £75,000 (DOE) + comprehensive benefits package

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancy firms in the search for a Principal or Associate Spatial Planner. With a long-standing reputation for delivering major infrastructure and development projects, this consultancy offers the chance to work on high-impact schemes across the UK and internationally.

About the Opportunity:
You’ll be joining a nationally recognised Planning team that operates in close collaboration with experts in transport, engineering, design, and environmental services. The team is deeply involved in national and regional infrastructure initiatives and provides spatial planning expertise to central government, local authorities, development corporations, and the private sector.

This is a rare opportunity to contribute to transformative projects, particularly across the North of England. You will play a key role in shaping regional growth strategies, urban regeneration projects, and infrastructure-led placemaking efforts-working at the forefront of planning policy, spatial visioning, and delivery frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead or contribute to the preparation of local plans, regional spatial strategies, infrastructure delivery studies and funding bids.

Provide high-level advice on planning policy, regeneration strategies, and place-based planning frameworks.

Develop strong working relationships with clients across central government, local authorities, and the private sector.

Engage in business development, tendering, and thought leadership to support ongoing team growth.

Contribute to complex, multi-disciplinary projects involving DCOs, TWAOs, CPOs and other planning mechanisms.

What We’re Looking For:

RTPI Chartered Town Planner with extensive experience in spatial or strategic planning.

A strong track record of delivering planning and regeneration work across the North West and Yorkshire regions.

Deep understanding of planning policy, funding mechanisms, and delivery strategies within city regions.

Excellent client-facing, communication, and project leadership skills.

Experience with infrastructure-led regeneration, urban extensions, town centres or transport-oriented development is highly desirable.

Why Join?
This is an opportunity to work with one of the most respected planning teams in the UK, backed by a global consultancy environment with access to award-winning training, long-term career progression and some of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country.