Senior Planning Engineer

American Society of Civil Engineers; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension scheme

Health plan options

Life assurance

Job summary

Yorkshire Water is seeking a Senior Planning Engineer to join the Town Planning Team on a nine‑month fixed term contract in Leeds. The role focuses on leading the technical assessment of complex planning applications, promoting sustainable drainage, and safeguarding assets across Yorkshire.

You will build strong relationships with Local Planning Authorities and developers, influence outcomes balancing development and environmental goals, and coach junior colleagues while supporting performance

Qualifications

• Degree in science or engineering.
• Strong understanding of sewerage networks, flood risk management.
• Knowledge of planning legislation incl. Town and Country Planning Act.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical assessment of planning applications and drainage solutions.
• Act as SME on sewer network infrastructure and flood risk.
• Build relationships with Local Planning Authorities, developers, and consultants.
• Influence planning outcomes balancing development with environmental and operational needs.
• Coach, mentor and guide junior staff to raise team capability.
• Support forecasting, performance reporting and delivery against targets.

Skills

Sewerage networks

Flood risk

Planning legislation

Stakeholder management

Communication

Coaching

Time management

IT skills

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft 365

ICE system

Odyssey

Lotus Notes

Job description

Company description:

Water Utility Company based in Yorkshire region of England.

Job description:

Senior Planning Engineer - Fixed term contract for 9 months

Ready to make a real impact on Yorkshire's future?

Hello! Thanks for stopping by.

At Yorkshire Water, we're not just delivering water and wastewater services. We're helping to protect the environment, support sustainable growth, and shape thriving communities across the region.

We're looking for a Senior Planning Engineer to join our Town Planning Team and play a pivotal role in influencing how development happens across Yorkshire. If you're passionate about planning, infrastructure, stakeholder engagement and making a difference, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.

What's in it for you?

We're proud to offer a fantastic package that recognises and rewards the contribution you'll make:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience from £42,881 to £50,710.
• Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year).
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution).
• Development opportunities in line with the Senior Engineer progression plan.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays - plus an extra two wellness days!
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.
• A great benefits package - choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme.
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location

This role will be based in Leeds Valley Park - Hybrid Working (up to two office days a week - Leeds including travel to other sites across Yorkshire).

Work type

Fixed Term Contract for nine months - 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday.

What we do!

Every day, Yorkshire Water provides essential water and wastewater services to more than 5.4 million customers across the region.

But our purpose goes far beyond supplying clean drinking water and treating wastewater.

We help communities thrive, protect the environment, improve resilience to climate change and support sustainable development across Yorkshire. With significant investment, evolving environmental legislation and increasing customer expectations, there's never been a more exciting time to join us.

Our Town Planning Team sits at the heart of this challenge. We work closely with Local Planning Authorities, developers, regulators and internal stakeholders to ensure that growth and development across Yorkshire is supported by resilient and sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure.

As a Senior Planning Engineer, you'll help shape planning decisions that protect Yorkshire Water's assets, influence future development and deliver positive outcomes for our customers, communities and environment.

Where you fit in!

This is an influential and highly visible role where you'll combine technical expertise, commercial awareness and stakeholder engagement to help guide development across the region.

As our Senior Planning Engineer, you will:

• Lead the technical assessment of complex planning applications promoting sustainable surface water drainage solutions, safeguarding existing YW infrastructure and work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to promote asset re-enforcement.
• Act as a subject matter expert on sewer network infrastructure and flood risk, resolving complex and escalated issues with confidence and credibility.
• Build trusted relationships with Local Planning Authorities, developers, consultants, and other key stakeholders, representing Yorkshire Water at a senior level.
• Influence planning outcomes by negotiating solutions that balance sustainable development, environmental protection and operational requirements.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and technical guidance to Development Technicians and colleagues, helping to develop capability and drive service excellence across the team.
• Support forecasting, performance reporting and delivery against key business targets, ensuring the team continues to provide an efficient and high-quality service.
• Champion continuous improvement by sharing expertise, promoting best practice and helping to enhance planning and development management processes across the business.

What skills and qualifications you will need:

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

You'll ideally have:

• A degree in a science or engineering discipline, ideally Civil Engineering, or equivalent industry experience.
• A strong understanding of sewerage networks, flood risk management and the challenges associated with supporting new development.
• Knowledge of planning legislation, including the Town and Country Planning Act, and its application within a development management, infrastructure or utility environment.
• An appreciation of the design, operation and management of water and wastewater networks and their interaction with future growth and development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly and confidently.
• Proven experience of building relationships, influencing stakeholders and negotiating successful outcomes with both internal and external partners.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring or developing colleagues, with a passion for sharing knowledge and building capability within a team.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and deliver high-quality work to challenging deadlines.
• A proactive, resilient and customer-focused approach, with a genuine commitment to delivering excellent service.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365 applications. Experience of Yorkshire Water systems such as ICE, Odyssey and Lotus Notes would be beneficial but is not essential.

Why join Yorkshire Water?

This is more than a planning role.

It's an opportunity to influence major developments across Yorkshire, protect critical infrastructure, shape sustainable growth and play a part in delivering one of the region's most important services.

You'll join a supportive team of experts, work on complex and varied projects, and have access to excellent development opportunities within a business that is investing heavily in its future.

We know that great people have commitments outside of work too, which is why we support flexible working arrangements wherever possible and encourage a healthy work-life balance.

Closing date will be 21st October 2026.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.