Strategic Estate Planning & Consent Lead

awepeople; Reading; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Market-leading pension

Family friendly policies

Professional career development

Employee assistance programme

Life assurance

Discounts

Special leave policy

Job summary

AWE seeks an experienced Head of Estate Planning & Consent to shape planning strategy, secure major development consents and lead external engagement on UK sites between Reading and Basingstoke. This senior onsite role requires strategic foresight and a track record of delivering complex planning approvals.

You will define requirements, monitor the Establishment Master Plan, and oversee biodiversity, sustainability and net-zero initiatives across the estate.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in town and country planning, estate development, infrastructure planning or consenting.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation, policy and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading complex planning applications and securing development consents.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, regulators and local authorities.
• Experience managing planning-related risks, governance and compliance activities.
• Strong understanding of sustainability, biodiversity and environmental planning considerations.
• Ability to interpret national and local planning policy and assess its impact on business operations.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans that support long-term organisational objectives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong leadership capability, with experience leading teams and delivering outcomes in complex organisations.

Responsibilities

• Lead AWE's planning and consent strategy, providing expert advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Define and maintain standards for planning applications, consents and regulatory compliance across the estate.
• Oversee planning applications from development through submission, approval and implementation.
• Ensure compliance with planning conditions and associated consents across AWE sites.
• Manage AWE's external planning commitments and site development activities.
• Review local and national planning policies, assessing potential impacts on AWE's operations and future programmes.
• Provide planning advice to AWE and MoD on external developments that could affect AWE sites and interests.
• Represent AWE with regulators, local authorities, government bodies and community stakeholders.
• Lead site-wide consenting activities relating to biodiversity, sustainability, net zero and other strategic initiatives.
• Act as the central point of coordination for planning and consent activities across the business.
• Work closely with legal, environmental, engineering and project delivery teams to ensure aligned and efficient approvals processes.
• Identify future planning and consent requirements and support stakeholders in developing robust submissions.
• Advise on key planning risks, issues and opportunities, ensuring these are effectively managed and communicated.
• Support the development of AWE's Establishment Master Plan and long-term Estate Strategy.
• Lead the management of planning appeals and inquiries, including acting as an expert witness where required.
• Develop and maintain AWE's Travel Plan, identifying opportunities to enhance sustainability and site accessibility.

Skills

Planning leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Sustainability planning

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Policy interpretation

Job description

AWE seeks an experienced Head of Estate Planning & Consent to shape planning strategy, secure major development consents and lead external engagement on UK sites between Reading and Basingstoke. This senior onsite role requires strategic foresight and a track record of delivering complex planning approvals.

You will define requirements, monitor the Establishment Master Plan, and oversee biodiversity, sustainability and net-zero initiatives across the estate.