Senior Town Planner | Principal Planner in Manchester)

Penguin Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy in the North of England seeks experienced Senior or Principal Town Planners to join their Planning & Environmental team. This role offers the chance to lead strategic projects and work with major clients across various sectors, including Energy and Transport. This opportunity provides a hybrid working model and a commitment to career growth within a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Hybrid and flexible working

Annual bonus

Excellent benefits package

Commitment to sustainability initiatives

Qualifications

• Degree in Town Planning or related subject; RTPI membership desirable.
• Experience delivering projects under relevant consenting regimes.
• Strong understanding of planning policy and infrastructure planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead on a range of planning projects, including major applications.
• Mentor junior team members and manage multi-disciplinary teams.
• Engage with clients and contribute to work winning.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Client Relationship Management

Education

Degree in Town Planning

Job description

Senior/Principal Town Planner - Infrastructure & Development Projects

Location: North of England - Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting one of the UK's most respected multi-disciplinary consultancies in their search for experienced Senior or Principal Town Planners to join their growing Planning & Environmental team in the North of England.

This market-leading consultancy works at the cutting edge of sustainable development, infrastructure delivery, and national planning policy, partnering with major public and private sector clients across the UK and internationally. From Net Zero to Biodiversity Net Gain and digital transformation, this is an opportunity to work with one of the UK's most forward-thinking planning teams.

The Opportunity:

You'll be joining a dynamic and high-performing planning team that supports clients across key markets including Energy, Water, Transport, Defence, and Housing. Key clients include the Environment Agency, National Highways, Homes England, Network Rail, Transport for the North, High Speed 2, the GLA, the Ministry of Defence, and many others. You'll also be working on strategic planning, policy, and infrastructure delivery across local authorities, LEPs, and private developers.

Key Responsibilities:

* Lead on a range of planning projects, including major applications and strategic planning

* Act as project lead and manage multi-disciplinary teams across complex schemes

* Oversee project delivery, including programme and budget management

* Support bid writing and framework submissions

* Mentor junior team members and help shape the future of the planning team

* Engage with clients and market leads to drive business growth and enhance market presence

What We're Looking For:

* A degree in Town Planning or a related subject (RTPI membership desirable)

* Experience delivering projects under TCPA, DCO, TWAO, or equivalent consenting regimes

* Strong understanding of EIA, planning policy, and infrastructure planning

* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presenting

* Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines

* Experience developing client relationships and contributing to work winning

* A collaborative mindset with the confidence to lead or work within multi-disciplinary teams

Why Join?

* Work on nation-shaping infrastructure projects with a leading consultancy

* Hybrid and flexible working to support your work-life balance

* Supportive and inclusive team environment focused on career growth

* Competitive salary, annual bonus, and an excellent benefits package

* Genuine commitment to sustainability, equality, and social value initiatives

This is a fantastic opportunity for a driven and experienced Planner to contribute to some of the UK's most impactful and strategic projects.