Rural Planner

Wessex Internet; Blandford Forum; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Tech purchase scheme

Enhanced family leave

Staff broadband discount

Job summary

Wessex Internet is a fast-growing broadband provider delivering rural connectivity across the Southwest. We are seeking a detail-oriented Rural Planner to support the delivery of our network build in Dorset, engaging with landowners and planning practical routes for trenchless fibre deployment.

You will negotiate access, explain project benefits, plan routes with landowners, and guide them through the legal process to commence construction. A proactive, communication-driven approach is essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent engagement with landowners and communities
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills
• Knowledge of agricultural operations and machinery helpful
• Good IT skills and proficiency with GIS (advantageous)
• Understanding of UK arable and livestock farming systems
• Able to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Strong analytical and detail-oriented mindset
• Proactive, self-starting and good communicator

Responsibilities

• Engage with communities and landowners to discuss network expansion projects
• Explain benefits to landowners of participating in the Wessex Internet model
• Propose construction routes in collaboration with landowners and finalise plans
• Address landowner concerns about construction impact
• Guide landowners through legal agreements to start construction
• Evaluate service maps and land information to choose routes
• Prepare and hand over a detailed route plan to the Planning Team
• Record progress and updates in the central management system

Skills

Landowner engagement

Negotiation

GIS

IT skills

Spatial awareness

Multitasking

Communication

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Wessex Internet is a fast-growing, award-winning broadband provider transforming rural connectivity across the Southwest. We’re looking for a detail-oriented Rural Planner to join our Planning team, supporting the successful delivery of our network build across Dorset.

Working closely with landowners, you'll negotiate access and develop practical routes for our trenchless, buried fibre network, helping bring high-speed broadband to rural communities.

What you'll get as a Rural Planner at Wessex Internet:

• A starting salary up to £36,000, dependent on experience.
• A £2,000 annual car allowance
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days.
• Private medical insurance & life assurance.
• Cycle to Work & Tech purchase schemes.
• Enhanced family leave policies.
• Staff broadband discount (75%).
• High street discounts on 100+ brands.
• Summer & Christmas team socials.
• Career development opportunities - Whether you want to lead a team or learn new skills, we'll support your growth in our fast-moving business.

What you'll do as a Rural Planner:

Including but not limited to:

• Community and Landowner Engagement: Actively engage with communities and landowners to discuss and promote Wessex Internet network expansion projects.
• Benefits Communication: Clearly explain the benefits to landowners of participating in the Wessex Internet model, highlighting advantages for their properties and communities.
• Route Planning: Liaise with landowners to propose suitable construction routes, adapt plans based on their feedback, and confirm final development plans.
• Customer Assurance: Instil confidence in landowners by addressing and resolving any concerns they may have regarding the impact of network construction on their property.
• Legal Agreement Facilitation: Guide committed landowners through the legal agreement process to enable the commencement of network construction in their area.
• Service Map Evaluation: Evaluate service maps and accessible land information to determine the best construction routes.
• Route Plan Handover: Develop and hand over a detailed and deliverable route plan to the Planning Team.
• Progress Documentation: Keep all progress and updates accurately recorded in the company's central management system.

What you'll bring as a Rural Planner:

• Excellent agricultural and countryside awareness, including an understanding of possible landowner concerns
• Negotiation and relationship building skills
• Knowledge of agricultural and construction machinery operation
• Strong IT skillset
• Previous experience in GIS (Advantageous)
• A robust grasp of UK arable and livestock farming systems and processes
• Keen sense of spatial awareness
• Ability to work on multiple projects at differing stages concurrently
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Proactive, can do and full of initiative
• Good communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to work well with a wide variety of people
• Ability to foresee potential challenges and propose resolutions

Ready to apply?

If you're confident working with landowners, understand rural environments, and have a strong eye for practical route planning, we want to hear from you. Join Wessex Internet as a Rural Planner and play a key role in bringing high-speed broadband to rural communities across the Southwest.