Town Planning Director

Carrington West; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Director bonus

28 days annual leave

Bank Holidays

Gifted days at Christmas

Life insurance

Private healthcare

Medicash plan

Flexible hybrid working

Job summary

Carrington West is seeking an experienced Planning Director for our Cambridge office. Hybrid role with three days in the office, focusing on managing major planning projects and expanding the client base across residential, infrastructure, and commercial sectors.

You will lead a planning team, mentor staff, and provide strategic advice while nurturing client relationships and pursuing new fees. MRTPI preferred and strong leadership essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within UK town planning.
• Established client base with ability to generate new business and fees.
• Strong leadership and business development skills.
• Commercial awareness and strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience leading complex planning projects and applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning projects from initial instruction through to successful delivery.
• Leverage your existing client network to generate new business opportunities.
• Support and expand the current client portfolio.
• Provide strategic planning advice across a variety of development sectors.
• Mentor and develop junior members of the planning team.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across the wider consultancy.
• Contribute to the continued growth and success of the Cambridge office and the national planning business.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client relationship management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

MRTPI qualification

Job description

Planning Director

Location: Cambridge (Hybrid - 3 days per week in the office)

Salary: Competitive + Outstanding Bonus & Benefits

A leading UK development consultancy is looking to appoint an experienced Planning Director to join its thriving Cambridge office. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded planning professional with an established client base and a strong track record of winning work, building relationships, and driving business growth.

The Opportunity

You will become part of a well-established planning team of approximately 15 professionals, ranging from Graduate Planner through to Executive Director level. The consultancy delivers planning services across a diverse range of sectors, including:

• Residential development
• Strategic land promotion
• Infrastructure projects
• Energy schemes
• Mixed-use developments
• Commercial planning

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning projects from initial instruction through to successful delivery.
• Leverage your existing client network to generate new business opportunities.
• Support and expand the current client portfolio.
• Provide strategic planning advice across a variety of development sectors.
• Mentor and develop junior members of the planning team.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across the wider consultancy.
• Contribute to the continued growth and success of the Cambridge office and the national planning business.

About You

• Significant experience within UK town planning.
• An established client base with the ability to generate new business and fees.
• Strong leadership and business development skills.
• Commercial awareness and strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience leading complex planning projects and applications.
• MRTPI qualification (or equivalent) preferred.

Flexible Working

The consultancy offers a flexible hybrid working model, requiring three days per week in the office, with client meetings counting as office attendance, allowing for greater flexibility and autonomy.

Reward & Benefits

• Director Bonus Scheme - up to 25% of annual salary
  • Performance year runs from April to April
  • Bonus paid in two instalments each year (June and December)
• 28 days annual leave
• Bank Holidays in addition
• 3 additional gifted days over the Christmas period
• Life insurance from day one
• Private healthcare
• Medicash cash plan, including dental and optical cover (available after one month of employment)
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements

Interview Process

• Stage 1: Informal Microsoft Teams interview
• Stage 2: Face-to-face interview