Senior to Senior Associate Planner

PENGUIN RECRUITMENT LTD; Ashby-de-la-Zouch; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Car allowance

25 days annual leave

Birthday day off

Additional festive leave

Enhanced parental leave

Death in Service

Employee Assistance Programme

Discount portal access

Volunteering leave

Hybrid working

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment Ltd. is partnering with a leading multidisciplinary property consultancy to appoint a Senior to Senior Associate Planner in Ashby, with a national footprint across residential, commercial, infrastructure, and leisure sectors.

The role offers ownership of diverse projects, mentoring APC candidates, and collaboration across offices. You'll work in a supportive team, driving client relationships and delivering high‑quality planning advice.

Qualifications

• MRTPI status, or close to completing APC.
• Experience in a planning consultancy or comparable planning environment.
• Sound knowledge of the UK planning system and current planning market.
• Background in managing planning applications and providing planning advice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and prioritise own caseload with high standards of advice.
• Carry out site appraisals, initial site reviews and shaping strategies.
• Prepare, submit and oversee planning applications across projects.
• Lead on site promotion, planning submissions and representations.
• Provide tailored planning advice to secure best client outcomes.
• Develop relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams (architects, highways, etc.).
• Liaise with Local Planning Authorities, Councillors and statutory consultees.
• Attend and lead project meetings, negotiations and client discussions.
• Mentor junior planning colleagues, APC candidates.
• Oversee budgets, time recording and invoicing.
• Seek new client relationships and opportunities to generate business.

Skills

MRTPI

APC candidate

Planning consultancy experience

UK planning system knowledge

Job description

Senior to Senior Associate Planner

Location: Ashby | Birmingham | Manchester

Penguin Recruitment is pleased to be working with a leading multidisciplinary property consultancy as it seeks to appoint a Senior to Senior Associate Planner to its established and expanding Planning Team, based in Ashby.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced planning professional to join a well-respected consultancy with a strong national footprint, working across a varied portfolio of engaging projects in the residential, commercial, infrastructure, retail and leisure sectors.

You will play a valuable part in delivering planning consultancy services, nurturing client relationships and finding ways to collaborate with colleagues across the wider business. The role offers the chance to take ownership of varied and rewarding projects, help the team continue to grow and support the development of more junior colleagues.

The Role

As a Senior to Senior Associate Planner, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and prioritising your own caseload while maintaining high standards of advice and service.
• Carrying out site appraisals, producing initial site reviews and shaping planning strategies.
• Preparing, submitting and overseeing planning applications across a broad project portfolio.
• Taking the lead on site promotion, planning submissions and representations.
• Giving tailored planning advice and working to secure the best possible outcomes for clients.
• Developing and sustaining strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary project teams, including architects, highways, landscape, drainage and ecology consultants.
• Liaising with Local Planning Authorities, Planning Officers, Councillors, members of the public and statutory consultees.
• Attending and leading project meetings, negotiations and client discussions.
• Supporting, mentoring and developing junior planning colleagues, including APC candidates.
• Overseeing project budgets, time recording and invoicing.
• Seeking out new client relationships and opportunities to generate additional business.

About You

To be considered for this opportunity, you will ideally bring:

• MRTPI status, or be close to completing your APC.
• Experience in a planning consultancy or comparable planning environment.
• Sound knowledge of the UK planning system and the current planning market.
• A background in managing planning applications and providing planning advice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to juggle multiple projects, prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.
• A proactive, self-motivated attitude, comfortable working both independently and within a team.
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior colleagues would be an advantage.

The Benefits

The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package, including:

• Discretionary annual bonus scheme.
• Car allowance.
• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 days with length of service.
• An extra day off on your birthday.
• Additional leave over the festive period.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
• Death in Service cover.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to an online discounts and savings portal.
• Two days’ volunteering leave each year.
• Hybrid working.
• Continued professional development and opportunities to progress your career.

The Company

You will be joining a well-established, UK-wide property and planning consultancy with roots stretching back to 1830. Active across a wide range of property sectors, the business offers specialist advice to clients nationwide and employs more than 800 people.

Boasting a collaborative culture, a well-developed office network and a strong focus on professional development, this is a chance to become part of a forward-thinking business in which planning plays a key role in the overall offering.