Senior Town Planner to Associate Director - Infrastructure

Cobalt Consulting (UK) Ltd; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure consultancy in Birmingham is seeking a Senior Town Planner to Associate Director. You will lead major infrastructure consent applications and manage multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring successful project delivery. This role also involves business development and representing clients at public examinations. Ideal candidates will have chartered planner qualifications and extensive experience in infrastructure consenting, along with strong leadership and communication skills. Flexible hybrid working and generous benefits are offered.

Benefits

Flexible hybrid working

Generous benefits package

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in infrastructure consenting, ideally with DCO or related frameworks.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects from inception to delivery.
• Flexibility to travel for client meetings across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and delivery of major infrastructure consent applications.
• Oversee project programmes, budgets, and technical outputs.
• Manage and mentor multi-disciplinary teams.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Technical understanding of UK planning

Business development

Leadership

Excellent communication

Education

Chartered Planner (MRTPI) or equivalent

Job description

A leading infrastructure and planning consultancy is seeking a Senior Town Planner to Associate Director to join its expanding Infrastructure division. This senior role offers the chance to shape and deliver nationally significant projects across energy, transport, and major infrastructure sectors - supporting some of the UK's most ambitious development programmes.

You'll lead the coordination and delivery of large-scale consent processes and private sector clients, investors, and multi-disciplinary project teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on the preparation and delivery of major infrastructure consent applications, including DCOs, TWAOs, and TCPA projects
• Provide strategic planning and consenting advice to clients across multiple infrastructure sectors
• Oversee project programmes, budgets, and technical outputs with autonomy and accountability
• Manage and mentor multi-disciplinary teams, fostering collaboration and professional growth
• Represent clients and the consultancy at public examinations, hearings, and stakeholder meetings
• Drive business development through networking, industry engagement, and thought leadership
• Work alongside senior colleagues to strengthen market presence and expand client relationships

What Bring

• Chartered Planner (MRTPI) or equivalent professional qualification
• Extensive experience in infrastructure consenting, ideally including NSIP, DCO, or related frameworks
• Proven ability to manage complex, large-scale projects from inception to delivery
• Strong technical understanding of UK planning and environmental legislation
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills
• Commercial awareness and confidence in client engagement and business development
• Flexibility to travel for client meetings and project work across the UK

Why Apply?

This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of the UK's most forward-thinking infrastructure planning teams, working on nationally significant and future-focused projects. The role offers flexible hybrid working, career progression, and a generous benefits package - alongside the chance to influence some of the country's most transformative infrastructure programmes.

When applying to any role through Cobalt, your CV will never be shared with a client without your prior consent.

Apply in confidence below or get in touch with me for a confidential discussion about the position via [e-mail] or 07458161399.