Principal Planner

Dalcour Maclaren; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking consultancy dedicated to shaping sustainable infrastructure projects across the UK. As a Principal Planner, you will lead a dynamic team, manage diverse projects, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. This role offers the chance to contribute to significant initiatives, including renewable energy and urban development, while fostering strong relationships with clients and stakeholders. Embrace a culture that values innovation and teamwork, and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that supports your professional growth and work-life balance. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, this is the opportunity for you!

Benefits

Annual performance bonus scheme

25 days annual leave plus birthday leave

Vitality Health Membership

Flexible working arrangements

Pension Scheme

Life insurance (4x Base Salary)

Free on-site parking

Cycle to work scheme

26 Weeks paid Maternity Leave

Professional development support

Qualifications

• Relevant planning degree and MRTPI chartered membership required.
• Strong analytical, presentation, and communication skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team to deliver environmental planning services.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders and manage project performance.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Presentation Skills

Communication Skills

GIS Systems Knowledge

Commercial Awareness

Teamwork

Education

Planning Degree

Chartered Membership of RTPI

Job description

Dalcour Maclaren is an innovative and highly dynamic multi-disciplinary consultancy working on a huge range of exciting and diverse projects for a growing client base within Utilities and Infrastructure – think HS2, Offshore wind farms and Nuclear Energy! We are immensely proud to be working on some of the largest infrastructure projects taking place across the UK (and beyond!) which are instrumental in shaping the future of our planet. If you want to play your part in helping the earth become more sustainable, and to reach NetZero by 2050, you would be making the right choice by joining the team here at Dalcour Maclaren.

Our Environmental and Planning Team is looking for an experienced Principal Planner to bolster the existing planning expertise in this busy and exciting part of the business which is continuing to grow. As Principal Planner, you will be managing and contributing to a variety of projects, including new capital schemes, property portfolio development appraisals and securing planning consents across all utilities and infrastructure sectors. You will lead or manage a small/sub team in providing support, experience and advice on environmental and planning considerations and requirements across a variety of sites and schemes with varying levels of sensitivity, delivering on a range of services and managing relatively complex projects to a consistently high standard with a view to meet and exceed client objectives.

As a Principal Planner You Will

• Lead or manage a small team to deliver a range of environmental planning services with a focus on technical Planning specialisms for projects and sites with varying levels of environmental sensitivities, including feasibility assessments, screening, scoping, planning and coordinating projects in line with relevant Environmental and Planning related guidance, legislation and policy as applied in UK, providing advice and preparing and delivering a range of planning and technical related reports; including planning applications.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with a range of internal and external project stakeholders including client teams, technical specialists and Local Authority planning officers whilst also drawing on the expertise of specialist colleagues, attending relevant meetings and site visits.
• Reporting directly to the client, take ownership of own/team performance in meeting deadlines and objectives and use a proactive approach and own high level initiative to drive progress and continuously improve delivery.
• Offer the wider Environmental and Planning team assistance on other projects and actively support team and wider business development, using own experienced skills to provide guidance on complex cases, seek efficiency gains and identify areas of new work and ways to cross-sell wider company services.
• Maintain own knowledge and skills via company and wider CPD and, if working towards professional membership or qualification (e.g. RTPI), take responsibility for own learning and progress, scheduling progress review meetings and maintaining an up to date record of activities.
• Monitor, support and coordinate the work and development of more junior members of staff and, if applicable, provide constructive line management to own line reports, engaging in regular progress review and feedback meetings, delegating tasks effectively and showing genuine interest in their welfare and development whilst also being able to hold difficult conversations.
• Participate in and actively support company groups, initiatives, events and socials, promoting DM’s values and always engendering a positive attitude within the workplace.
• Carry out work in compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, contractual and organisational requirements and policies.
  
  

The Successful Candidate Will

• Have a relevant planning degree and have achieved chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).
• Have sound analytical and presentation skills coupled with great written and verbal communication skills; ideally you will be able to write and prepare fee proposals for the work you undertake and advise others when inputting into larger multi-disciplinary projects
• Be commercially aware, enabling you to understand client needs and requirements when undertaking negotiations with stakeholders
• Be an excellent communicator with the willingness to learn and develop
• Have good knowledge of GIS systems and an understanding of environmental technical disciplines
• Be self-motivated and organised
• Have a full UK driving licence
• Be a great team player and have a can-do attitude
  
  

Why Dalcour Maclaren? What makes us different?!

Really and truly, it’s our people and our culture. We are ‘One Team’, and this is the lifeblood of our organisation. We champion new ideas and are fully committed to Corporate Social Responsibility, and our Diversity & Inclusion. Our winning formula for success is investing in the fantastic people within our team to deliver an unparalleled and unique service to our clients. If you are looking to work for a growing organisation who are not afraid to be brave, bold, and push the boundaries to challenge the ‘norm’, then a career with DM should be the one for you!

Benefits

• Annual performance bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus 1 day to celebrate your birthday
• Vitality Health Membership (including Private healthcare, subsidised gym membership and other discounts)
• Flexible working through our ‘Flexible Advantage’ supporting working families & your work/life balance
• Pension Scheme via The Peoples Pension
• Life insurance (4x Base Salary)
• Free on-site parking in non-city centre offices
• Cycle to work scheme
• 26 Weeks paid Maternity Leave
• 2 Weeks paid Paternity Leave
• BHN Extras – provides discounted gift cards for hundreds of popular retailers
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (provided by Octopus Electric Vehicles) effective at 1 years’ service
• Sabbatical Policy effective at 3 years’ service
• Professional development – paid study leave
• Military service paid leave (7.5 days per year)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) plus wider Mental Health & Wellbeing support
• 2 x Company-wide events every year, in addition to multiple office socials throughout the year
  
  

Dalcour Maclaren is an equal opportunities employer.