Principal Town Planner & Complex Projects Lead

SYSTRA; Birmingham, Manchester, Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Private healthcare

Electric car scheme

Flexible benefits

Wellness programme

Job summary

SYSTRA Ltd is seeking an experienced Principal Town Planner to shape project strategy, lead complex planning and consenting activity, manage clients and develop people in a growing UK team.

You will secure statutory consents, coordinate with Local Authorities and statutory bodies, and guide multidisciplinary teams to deliver high‑quality infrastructure projects with a focus on excellence and innovation.

Qualifications

• Hold a degree or postgraduate qualification in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• Be a Chartered member of RTPI or another relevant professional body, with the ability to act as the planning lead on complex projects.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, negotiation and client-facing skills, with the ability to influence clients, stakeholders and multidisciplinary project teams effectively.
• Bring a proven track record of leading and delivering complex planning and consenting projects, including managing programme, quality, risk and stakeholder interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of complex planning and consenting project outcomes on time, within budget and to client specifications.
• Ensure technically sound planning and consenting solutions are produced, including all associated reporting and cost estimating, to programme and within budget.
• Identify, define and deliver effective planning and consenting strategies for complex infrastructure projects.
• Ensure the team’s work complies with relevant technical standards, planning requirements and consenting obligations.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and technical guidance to staff, while actively supporting professional development within the team.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, Local Authorities, statutory bodies, designers and contract partners to enhance the company’s reputation.
• Contribute to the overall growth and direction of Town Planning within the business.
• Take responsibility for securing statutory consents and working closely with Local Authorities, statutory bodies and other transport authorities.
• Manage and coordinate applications, negotiation and implementation of all necessary consents.
• Drive quality assurance and excellence within the discipline team.
• Provide technical guidance to discipline design teams and support effective integration across multidisciplinary delivery.
• Contribute to wider business projects from a consenting and compliance perspective, from bid stage through to project delivery.
• Support collaboration with international technical networks where required to strengthen project delivery.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Client-facing

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Town Planning

Chartered RTPI member

Job description

SYSTRA Ltd is seeking an experienced Principal Town Planner to shape project strategy, lead complex planning and consenting activity, manage clients and develop people in a growing UK team.

You will secure statutory consents, coordinate with Local Authorities and statutory bodies, and guide multidisciplinary teams to deliver high‑quality infrastructure projects with a focus on excellence and innovation.