Principal Town Planner

AECOM; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure consulting firm in the UK is seeking a Principal Town Planner to lead planning applications for major projects, particularly in the energy and transport sectors. The ideal candidate will have significant experience with DCO projects and strong client relationships. This role offers hybrid working arrangements and the chance to work on prestigious infrastructure projects nationwide.

Benefits

Hybrid work options

Wide array of compensation and benefits programs

Dynamic work environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience in leading applications for planning consent for large infrastructure projects.
• Experience as an expert witness is advantageous.
• Existing relationships with clients and local authorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead major development applications and coordinate multi-disciplinary teams.
• Manage planning applications and liaise with local authorities and stakeholders.
• Produce planning feasibility reports and contribute to business development.

Skills

Client focus

Interpersonal skills

Ability to write clearly

Business development mindset

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related discipline

Membership of RTPI or equivalent

Job description

Overview

An opportunity for a Principal Town to work on infrastructure planning projects across the UK, with a particular expertise and focus on DCO projects. We have an impressive portfolio of involvement in major infrastructure projects, including delivery of projects through various consenting regimes including DCOs. We are currently leading on planning applications for renewables and wider energy/electricity related infrastructure, transport, defence, water and much more. You will be able to work on a range of prestigious infrastructure projects for our clients in the energy transition, rail and water development sectors, as well as a range of regional and local developments. AECOM is a market leader in UK infrastructure development, with experience of over 80 DCO projects. Join us now and you could be working on:

• numerous solar DCOs with a pipeline of future work;
• carbon capture and storage projects;
• energy transmission schemes;
• large aviation and rail projects; and
• housing and mixed-use development consenting.

We are passionate about delivering planning to support complex projects. As our Town Planning team is national, and we support hybrid working we are flexible in terms of base location. The role can be based from our offices in Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Chesterfield, Leeds, London Aldgate, Manchester, Nottingham and Plymouth, with an option for hybrid working.

What you’ll do

• Lead and assist in the delivery of major development applications.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across various project types.
• Submit and manage planning applications, including liaising and negotiating with local planning authorities and key stakeholders.
• Provide planning advice to colleagues and clients on consent requirements and permitted development rights.
• Produce planning feasibility reports and consent strategies.
• Write Planning Statements and Design and Access Statements for development applications.
• Contribute to business development in specific market sectors, including sector strategy.
• Identify opportunities and build client relationships.
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of successful commercial tenders.
• Work closely with the Environmental Impact Assessment team.
• Participate in internal and external meetings with stakeholders.
• Oversee project management, ensuring quality and adherence to health and safety principles.

Location and working arrangements

The role is national, and we support hybrid working. The role can be based from our offices in Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Chesterfield, Leeds, London Aldgate, Manchester, Nottingham and Plymouth, with an option for hybrid working.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world\'s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle - from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity. You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you\'re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed. We provide a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees. We\'re the world\'s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we\'re in this together - your growth and success are ours too. Join us, and you\'ll get all the benefits of being part of a global, publicly traded firm - access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person\'s potential, and we\'ll help you reach yours. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Qualifications

• Education & Professional Memberships
  Degree in Town Planning or a related discipline. Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or an equivalent professional body.
• Experience
  Significant relevant experience of leading applications for planning consent for large infrastructure projects across a range of consenting regimes. Expert witness experience would be advantageous.
• Client & Stakeholder Relations
  Client focus, with good interpersonal skills and a collaborative working approach. Existing relationships with clients and local authorities. A business development mindset, with demonstrable experience of work winning and developing relationships with existing and new clients.
• Skills
  Ability to write clearly and concisely. Ability to work on your own initiative and under pressure.
• Quality & Commitment
  High level of commitment to quality.

Additional Information

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more. For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn (annemarieflynn).