Town Planning Director

Penguin Recruitment; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Pension scheme

Hybrid working

CPD programme

Career progression

Employee-owned business

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment is partnering with a leading, employee-owned planning-led multidisciplinary consultancy in Bedford to appoint a Director of Planning. You will lead the planning team, manage major applications and shape client relationships while driving growth and profitability.

The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery across development management, Local Plans and public inquiries. Hybrid working and ongoing CPD are offered.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' professional planning experience.
• Postgraduate qualification in Planning.
• Chartered membership of the RTPI.
• Experience in private-sector planning consultancy or mix with public/client-side work.
• Significant experience managing major planning applications and appeals.
• Strong knowledge of development management and planning policy.
• Experience with Local Plan representations, site promotion, examinations and inquiries.
• Experience leading and developing planning teams.
• Excellent stakeholder and client management skills.
• Proven business development and winning new work.
• Established network of industry contacts.
• Budgeting, profitability and income projections experience.

Responsibilities

• Leading, growing and mentoring the Planning team.
• Providing leadership and staff development.
• Leading major planning applications and appeals.
• Working on development management and policy work.
• Preparing Local Plan representations and site promotion.
• Involvement in Local Plan examinations and inquiries.
• Building and maintaining client relationships; expanding the client base.
• Identifying new business opportunities and driving growth.
• Managing budgets, income projections and profitability.
• Collaborating across the wider multidisciplinary business.

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Business development

Staff mentoring

Strategic planning

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Planning

RTPI Chartered membership

Job description

Director of Planning - Bedford | Competitive Salary + Benefits

Penguin Recruitment is proud to be partnered with a leading employee-owned, planning-led multidisciplinary consultancy who are looking to appoint an experienced Director of Planning to join their established team in Bedford.

This is an exciting senior leadership opportunity for an experienced planning professional who is looking to take responsibility for leading a planning team, developing client relationships and playing a key role in the continued growth of the business.

The Role

As Director of Planning, you will have a senior leadership position within the consultancy, with responsibility for both project delivery and the continued development of the planning team and client base.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, managing and growing the Planning team
• Providing leadership, mentoring and professional development to staff
• Leading major planning applications and appeals
• Working across development management and development plan/policy work
• Preparing and managing Local Plan representations
• Working on site promotion, Local Plan examinations and public inquiries
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships
• Developing new business opportunities and expanding the client base
• Managing existing client instructions and identifying new opportunities
• Managing office workloads, budgets, income projections and profitability
• Identifying and developing opportunities within key growth sectors
• Contributing to wider company strategy and business development
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the wider multidisciplinary business

The consultancy works across a diverse range of sectors, including residential, strategic land, affordable housing, mixed-use development, regeneration, commercial and industrial, logistics, education, energy and renewable projects and the public sector.

Salary & Benefits

Salary: Negotiable depending on experience

The successful candidate will receive a strong overall benefits package, including:

• Competitive, negotiable salary
• Private healthcare with BUPA
• Life insurance
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributions towards professional subscriptions
• Enhanced maternity scheme
• Hybrid working
• Structured training and CPD programme
• Annual professional reviews and career development
• Opportunity to work within an employee-owned business
• Excellent opportunities for progression and professional development

The consultancy places a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, professional development, diversity and creating an inclusive working environment.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have:

• 10+ years' professional planning experience
• A relevant postgraduate qualification in Planning
• Chartered membership of the RTPI
• Strong experience within a private-sector planning consultancy, or a combination of private, public-sector and client-side experience
• Significant experience managing major planning applications and appeals
• Strong knowledge of development management and planning policy
• Experience with Local Plan representations, site promotion, examinations and public inquiries
• Previous experience managing and developing professional planning teams
• Excellent stakeholder and client management skills
• A proven track record in business development and winning new work
• An established network of industry contacts
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience with budgets, profitability and income projections
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills
• A full UK driving licence

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Planning Director, Associate Director or Senior Planning Consultant who is ready to take the next step into a genuine leadership position.

You’ll have the opportunity to shape the growth of the planning team, develop new business, work on a diverse portfolio of projects and contribute to the wider strategic direction of an established multidisciplinary consultancy.