Senior Town Planner / Associate Town Planner

Stantec; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Job summary

Stantec in Reading seeks a Senior Planner or Associate Planner to join our Planning team. You will deliver planning projects for diverse clients, shaping communities and supporting sustainable growth.

You’ll work with experienced planners across transport, development, and environmental services, taking increasing ownership and mentoring junior colleagues as you progress.

Qualifications

• Degree and postgraduate qualification in Town Planning or related discipline.
• MRTPI membership.
• Significant experience in a planning consultancy, local authority or related environment.
• Strong knowledge of the UK planning system, including development management and plan making.
• Experience preparing planning applications, appraisals, planning statements and technical reports.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Senior Planner: leading client relationships; Associate: ownership and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Managing and contributing to planning applications for a wide range of development projects.
• Providing strategic planning and development management advice to clients.
• Contributing to strategic planning and plan-making projects across the region and nationally.
• Preparing planning appraisals, planning statements, reports and supporting documentation.
• Preparing planning appeals including hearings and public inquiries.
• Undertaking policy research and monitoring changes in planning legislation and guidance.
• Managing project programmes, budgets and delivery to agreed timescales.
• Building and maintaining relationships with clients, local authorities and stakeholders.
• Collaborating with colleagues across technical disciplines to deliver integrated solutions.
• Supporting business development activities, including proposals and client presentations.

Skills

MRTPI membership

Client relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Commercial awareness

Report writing

Education

Town Planning degree or related

Postgraduate qualification in Town Planning

Job description

Are you chartered town planner looking to take the next step in your career by working on some of the UK's most exciting strategic planning, development and infrastructure projects?

We're looking for a Senior Planner or Associate Planner to join our Planning team in Reading. This is an excellent opportunity to become part of a leading multidisciplinary consultancy, working on projects that shape communities, support sustainable growth and deliver lasting positive impact.

You’ll work alongside experienced planners and technical specialists across transport, engineering, environmental services, architecture, landscape and sustainability, giving you the opportunity to broaden your expertise and play an increasingly influential role in the delivery of complex projects.

Our team works across a diverse portfolio, including strategic land, development management, residential, commercial, mixed-use, infrastructure, regeneration and energy projects. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your technical expertise, strengthen client relationships and take greater ownership of projects as your career progresses.

About the Role:

As a Senior Planner or Associate Planner, you’ll play an important role in delivering planning projects for a diverse range of clients, while contributing to the continued growth and development of our Reading Planning team.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and contributing to planning applications for a wide range of development projects.
• Providing strategic planning and development management advice to clients.
• Contributing to strategic planning and plan-making projects across the region and nationally.
• Preparing planning appraisals, planning statements, reports and supporting documentation.
• Preparing planning appeals including involvement in hearings and public inquires.
• Undertaking policy research and monitoring changes in planning legislation and guidance.
• Managing project programmes, budgets and delivery to agreed timescales.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, local authorities and key stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across multiple technical disciplines to deliver integrated solutions.
• Supporting business development activities, including proposals and client presentations.
• Identifying opportunities to support the growth of the Planning team and wider business.
• For Associate Planner applicants, taking greater ownership of projects, leading client relationships and providing guidance and mentoring to more junior colleagues.
• For Associate Planner applicants, supporting the development of the team through knowledge sharing, coaching and contributing to recruitment and wider team initiatives.

Your Impact:

You’ll contribute to projects that make a genuine difference to the places where people live, work and thrive.

Working across a variety of sectors, you’ll help clients navigate complex planning challenges, secure planning permissions and deliver development that supports economic growth, creates new homes, improves infrastructure and enhances the environment.

You’ll be part of a genuinely multidisciplinary environment, working alongside specialists across the business to develop integrated solutions and deliver better outcomes for communities and clients.

As your career develops, you’ll be encouraged to take on greater responsibility, strengthen your client relationships and contribute to the continued growth and success of our Planning team.

About You:

We're looking for experienced planners who are commercially aware, enjoy solving complex problems and are confident building relationships with clients and stakeholders.

You'll have:

• A degree, and ideally a postgraduate qualification, in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• MRTPI membership.
• Significant experience within a planning consultancy, local authority, developer or related environment.
• Strong knowledge of the UK planning system, including development management and/or plan making.
• Experience preparing planning applications, appraisals, planning statements and technical reports.
• Strong report writing, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work to agreed deadlines.
• A collaborative approach and genuine interest in sustainable development.
• For Senior Planner level, experience managing planning projects and developing client relationships.
• For Associate Planner level, a track record of taking ownership of projects, managing client relationships and supporting or mentoring junior colleagues.

We're particularly interested in hearing from planners with experience across strategic land, residential, commercial, mixed-use, infrastructure, regeneration or energy, although relevant experience in other areas of planning will also be considered.

Why Join Us:

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups)
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK & Ireland – we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.