Associate / Associate Director Town Planner
Location: Bristol
Job Type: Full-time, Office-based
Salary: £55,000-£75,000+ DOE
A respected independent planning consultancy is seeking an experienced Associate / Associate Director Town Planner to join its growing Bristol office. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially aware planning professional with over 10 years' experience to take on a senior leadership role within a collaborative and well-established practice.
The successful Associate / Associate Director Town Planner will play a key role in leading projects, managing client relationships, supporting business development initiatives, and contributing to the strategic growth of the business. Working across a diverse portfolio of developments throughout the UK, you will have the opportunity to shape both projects and the future direction of the planning team.
The Role
- Lead and oversee a diverse range of planning projects from initial instruction through to determination and appeal.
- Provide strategic planning advice to a broad client base, including developers, landowners, private clients and multidisciplinary consultant teams.
- Manage key client relationships and act as a trusted advisor throughout the planning process.
- Prepare and oversee high-quality planning applications, appeals, representations and supporting planning documentation.
- Represent clients at meetings with Local Planning Authorities, stakeholders, project teams and public consultations where required.
- Support the Directors in the management and growth of the planning team.
- Mentor and develop junior planners, fostering professional growth and maintaining technical excellence across the team.
- Contribute to business development activities, networking opportunities and the preparation of fee proposals and tenders.
- Assist in identifying new opportunities for growth and strengthening the consultancy's market presence.
About You
- MRTPI chartered status.
- A minimum of 10 years' professional planning experience gained within consultancy, development, housebuilding or local authority environments.
- Strong experience delivering complex planning applications and strategic planning advice.
- Proven experience managing client relationships and leading projects independently.
- Strong commercial awareness and an interest in contributing to business growth.
- Experience mentoring and managing planning professionals.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach with strong professional judgement.
What's on Offer
- A senior leadership opportunity within a respected and growing planning consultancy.
- The chance to work on a broad range of high-profile and challenging planning projects across the UK.
- Genuine influence over project delivery, client development and team growth.
- Clear progression opportunities within an expanding business.
- A collaborative and supportive working environment.
- Competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.
This opportunity would suit an ambitious Associate / Associate Director Town Planner looking to take the next step in their career, combining technical excellence with leadership, client management and business development responsibilities within a highly regarded independent consultancy.
