Senior Town Planner - Dorset

Beach Baker Property Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading property consultancy in Dorset is seeking an experienced Senior Planner for a client-facing role. The position involves delivering feasibility advice, managing planning applications, and coordinating with various teams. The ideal candidate should have client-facing experience and be a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. The role offers competitive salary, training support, and clear career progression.

Benefits

Competitive salary (DOE) plus commission

Support for training and professional development

Clear career progression

Extra holiday for long service

Company social and sporting events

Enhanced maternity pay

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a client-facing planning role (public or private sector).
• Strong knowledge of planning policy, the NPPF, and local/neighbourhood plans.
• Comfortable working independently and within interprofessional teams.

Responsibilities

• Deliver initial feasibility advice and planning appraisals.
• Develop planning strategies and manage pre-application enquiries.
• Prepare Planning Statements and supporting documentation.
• Manage and submit a wide range of planning applications.
• Act as project lead, coordinating with consultants.
• Advise on planning conditions and obligations.
• Prepare and manage planning appeals.

Skills

Client-facing planning experience

Knowledge of planning policy

Ability to work independently

Team collaboration

Education

Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI)

Job description

Senior Planner - Dorset - Client-Facing Role

A leading multi-disciplinary property consultancy is seeking an experienced Senior Planner to join their Professional Services team based in Dorset. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated planning professional to take on a client-facing, fee-earning role with a strong pipeline of Residential, Agricultural, and Commercial projects across the Wessex region.

You'll be involved from the earliest stages of development through to the discharge of planning conditions, working closely with internal teams and external consultants to deliver high-quality outcomes for clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering initial feasibility advice and planning appraisals
• Developing planning strategies and managing pre-application enquiries
• Preparing Planning Statements, Design & Access Statements, and supporting documentation
• Managing and submitting a wide range of planning applications, including Listed Building Consent
• Acting as project lead, coordinating with consultants and internal departments
• Advising on planning conditions, Section 106 agreements, CIL, and other obligations
• Promoting development sites for adoption
• Preparing and managing planning appeals

This role is primarily office-based, with flexibility for occasional remote working.

Candidate Profile

Essential:

• Previous experience in a client-facing planning role (public or private sector)
• Strong knowledge of planning policy, the NPPF, and local/neighbourhood plans
• Comfortable working independently and within interprofessional teams
• Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI)

Desirable:

• 3+ years post-qualification experience (PQE)
• Experience leading complex planning projects

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary (DOE) plus commission
• Support for training and professional development
• Clear career progression and opportunity to build a client base
• Extra holiday for long service
• Company social and sporting events
• Enhanced maternity pay

If you're a proactive planner looking to join a collaborative and forward-thinking team, this could be the perfect next step in your career.