Senior/Principal Planning Consultant

Penguin Recruitment Ltd; Woodford; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Training & development opportunities

Exposure to major projects

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment Ltd. is seeking a Senior or Principal Planning Consultant to join its planning team in Bristol or Cardiff, offering a hybrid working arrangement. The role focuses on leading complex planning and consenting projects across infrastructure and major developments.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and contribute to bids and framework responses, while mentoring junior colleagues and supporting business development.

Qualifications

• Degree in Town Planning or related discipline.
• MRTPI status or working towards chartership.
• Experience within planning consultancy, infrastructure planning, or major development projects.
• Knowledge of Town and Country Planning Act, DCO, TWAO or similar regimes.
• Experience presenting to clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Act as Planning Lead or supporting lead across a diverse portfolio of projects.
• Manage project delivery and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Prepare bids, tender submissions, and framework responses.
• Provide planning advice across infrastructure and development projects.
• Support and mentor junior members of the planning team.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and identify BD opportunities.
• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and planning submissions.
• Collaborate with environmental, engineering, and design specialists on projects.

Skills

Project management

Client liaison

Report writing

Presentation skills

Team mentoring

Business development

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Town Planning

MRTPI status / chartership

Job description

Job Title: Senior Planner Principal Planner

Location: Bristol or Cardiff

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading multidisciplinary consultancy in its search for a Senior or Principal Planning Consultant to join its growing and highly respected planning team in either Bristol or Cardiff.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of one of the UK's leading planning consultancies, working on some of the country's most significant infrastructure and development projects across sectors including energy, transport, utilities, ports, and major development schemes.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative, forward-thinking team at the forefront of sustainable development, Net Zero initiatives, environmental planning, and strategic infrastructure delivery.

The Role

As a Senior or Principal Planning Consultant, you will play a key role in the delivery of complex planning and consenting projects, working closely with multidisciplinary teams and a broad client base.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as Planning Lead or supporting lead across a diverse portfolio of projects.
• Managing project delivery and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Preparing and contributing to bids, tender submissions, and framework responses.
• Providing planning advice across infrastructure and development projects.
• Supporting and mentoring junior members of the planning team.
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships and identifying business development opportunities.
• Preparing high-quality reports, presentations, and planning submissions.
• Working collaboratively with environmental, engineering, and design specialists across a wide range of projects.

About You

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A degree in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• MRTPI status or be working towards chartership.
• Experience within planning consultancy, infrastructure planning, or major development projects.
• A strong understanding of the Town and Country Planning Act, Development Consent Orders (DCO), Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAO), or similar consenting regimes.
• Knowledge of Environmental Impact Assessment processes and strategic planning principles would be advantageous.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to clients and stakeholders.
• A proactive, resilient, and commercially minded approach.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Exposure to nationally significant infrastructure and development projects.
• Excellent training and professional development opportunities.
Clear pathways for career progression within a highly regarded consultancy.
• A supportive, collaborative, and inclusive working environment.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Town Planner looking to take the next step in their career and contribute to the delivery of some of the UK's most exciting and complex planning projects.