A bit about us…. The Sawday’s group is a collection of travel brands all centred on a passion for special places to stay. Since 2017, the company has been 52% employee-owned, with the rest made up of a Charitable Trust and the founding family. We’re proud to be B Corp certified and recognised by them as one of the top 5% places in the world for employees. We are leaders in sustainable and ethical travel, and every team in our business plays a vital role in achieving our impact goals. Our Impact Report outlines our five-year strategy and annual objectives, which form the foundation of our company-wide approach. These goals drive every decision we make, and we expect all team members to contribute to their success as part of our shared mission. Every employee, every team, every decision contributes to our mission to demonstrate that tourism can be done better and that it has a positive role to play in society and in protecting the environment. This role involves working for Crown & Canopy, the UK’s leading glamping consultancy agency, who offer advice, guidance and hands-on support to owners looking to make their dreams into reality. In every project we run, the health of the land and the ecosystem is as important as the bottom line. Crown & Canopy work closely with the Canopy & Stars team to support owners on this journey of developing and marketing glamping and sustainable accommodation. Your role We are looking for a Planning and Development Project Manager as maternity cover for 12 months. This role involves preparation and submission of pre and full commercial planning applications in open countryside. Knowledge and experience of working on planning applications is key and ideally, the applicant has good experience of drafting and submitting applications through planning portals as well as liaising with planning officers and local authorities. The work involves liaison with internal team members including our in-house architects and consultants as well as recruitment and management of freelance surveyors such as tree and ecology specialists. Good communication and problem-solving skills are required to manage projects internally with the team and with clients, along with the ability to manage client expectations and work in a flexible way. A certain amount of tenacity and the ability to work independently, as well as in a team, is crucial to this role. Excellent written skills are required for preparing planning statements and consultancy reports. A good understanding of the UK planning system is desirable, as is the ability to respond quickly and carry out thorough research into policy and designations. Job Title Planning and Development Project Manager (maternity cover) Reports to Crown & Canopy Director Works with Senior Planning & Development Project Manager Senior Architect Architectural Designer Main tasks and responsibilities Preparation and submission of planning applications including working closely with clients, in-house team and independent contractors Managing planning applications post submission, including liaison with planning officers, clients and relevant third parties Manage relationships with clients and external contractors (this may involve site visits) Work closely with the in-house architects to deliver timely and efficient projects Sustainability & Ethics Guardianship: We are leaders in sustainable and ethical travel, and every team in our business plays a vital role in achieving our impact goals. Our Impact Report outlines our five-year strategy and annual objectives, which form the foundation of our company-wide approach. In this role, you’ll be responsible for considering these goals with every decision we make as a business, whilst supporting initiatives which contribute to the success of our shared mission. Skills and experience Necessary: Excellent project management experience and skills Some knowledge and experience of working on planning applications Great communication at all levels, with the ability to work through ambiguity and to collaborate with stakeholders Desirable: Thorough understanding of the UK planning system Ideally a planning related background Full UK Driving Licence Northern or Midlands based or within commutable distance of Bristol Knowledge and qualifications Planning related qualification or 2 years minimum planning experience preferred Salary £29-35k pro rata, depending on experience 26 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays, pro rata Part-time, 30-37.5 hours per week Flexi time and hybrid working Company pension scheme with enhanced employer contributions at 4%, and an optional salary sacrifice scheme An employee-owned company A special place to work: a colourful, upcycled, recycled, open plan office on Bristol’s buzzing harbourside DEIBA Team: a team focused on diversity & inclusion efforts for our employees and customers £290 per year towards staying in one of our special places 20% employee discount and 10% family & friends discount on UK based Canopy & Stars breaks, 15% discount on EU based breaks 15% employee discount and 8% family & friends discount on Paws & Stay breaks in the UK Enhanced maternity and paternity pay A volunteering day per year 15 wellbeing hours per year (pro rata) A ‘Climate Journey Day’ policy, which gives you the opportunity to earn up to two paid days per year to travel to and from a holiday destination using low-carbon transport Social and wellbeing events held throughout the year Closing Date and Applications Applicants need to be Northern or Midlands based or within commutable distance of Bristol Closing date for applications: 22nd August 2025 Our Behaviours and Values How we work is just as important as the success we achieve at Sawday’s. During your time with us, you will be expected to treasure, protect, and embody our behaviours and values every day. We celebrate quirkiness and difference We dance to the beat of our own drum We encourage curiosity and creativity We champion individuality and the ‘special’ We follow head and heart We are solidly commercial while flexible and ‘human’ We are empathetic, generous and supportive We make ethical, holistic, long-term decisions We do important things brilliantly We use business as a force for social, environmental and economic good We are committed to our craft and deliver with ambition and purpose We relish our role in sustaining a happy, healthy world We bring positive energy We foster a genuine spirit of togetherness and family We take pleasure in empowering and delighting others We are driven to learn, grow, connect and contribute Finally We place a strong emphasis on ethics, people and the environment and it is important to us that you understand, strongly identify with, and are able to develop the company ethos. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive company, where diverse backgrounds and perspectives are valued and where everyone can bring their full, authentic selves to work. As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview to any disabled candidate who meets all the ‘Necessary’ skills listed above and is a commutable distance from the office. If you need any further assistance with your application, or require the application form in a different format, please contact Charlotte Bennett on charlotte.bennett@sawdays.co.uk or 0117 204 7828.