Job Title: Principal Town Planner
Location: Northampton
About the Company
Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading multidisciplinary land and property consultancy with offices across the Midlands. The business delivers a wide range of services including planning, architecture, building surveying, valuation, and business consultancy, helping clients maximise the value and potential of their assets. You will join a collaborative, multidisciplinary development team made up of planners, engineers, surveyors, archaeologists, and architects. The organisation offers the ideal balance between scale and agility - large enough to deliver diverse, high-quality projects, yet small enough to provide autonomy, visibility, and genuine cross‑disciplinary collaboration. Due to strategic growth within the Kettering office, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Planning Consultant to help establish and expand the planning and development presence across Northamptonshire.
The Role
This is a senior‑level position combining strategic leadership, business development, and hands‑on planning consultancy delivery. You will act as a key figure within the Kettering office, driving growth, strengthening client relationships, and enhancing market presence.
Key Responsibilities
Technical & Delivery
* Act as the lead planning expert within the Kettering office
* Deliver planning consultancy services across a variety of sectors
* Provide both general and strategic planning advice to clients
* Coordinate and prepare planning applications with internal teams
* Manage post‑planning negotiations, appeals, and related processes
* Oversee development lifecycle stages including technical design, procurement, and construction‑phase input
* Lead multidisciplinary project teams, managing delivery, risk, and programme performance
* Support and mentor junior team members to develop technical capability
Strategic & Business Development
* Drive growth of the planning and development offer across Northamptonshire
* Build and maintain strong relationships with developers, landowners, promoters, and agents
* Cross‑sell complementary services including land promotion, valuation, and agency work
* Increase brand awareness and generate new instructions
* Identify opportunities to diversify services and expand into new markets
* Improve operational efficiency, productivity, and profitability
* Strengthen integration across the wider service offering
About You
We are seeking an experienced planning professional with strong leadership and commercial capability.
Essential Requirements
* MRTPI qualified (or equivalent)
* Proven experience in planning consultancy and development‑led work
* Track record of business development, networking, or team growth
* Strong understanding of the full development process
* Experience in post‑planning, technical design, and project delivery
* Excellent project management and coordination skills
* Full UK driving licence
Personal Attributes
* Strategic thinker with strong attention to detail
* Confident decision‑maker and problem solver
* Strong communicator and relationship builder
* Commercially aware and growth‑focused
* Resilient, adaptable, and proactive
* Passion for innovation and continuous improvement
Benefits
* Competitive salary (dependent on experience)
* Private healthcare (BUPA)
* 35 days holiday (including bank holidays)
* Additional birthday day off
* Extra holiday for long service
* Discretionary bonus scheme
* Enhanced pension scheme (NEST)
* Professional membership fees paid + CPD support
* Employee Assistance Programme + health plan + flu jab
* Agile and flexible working culture
* EV and Cycle to Work salary sacrifice schemes
If you meet the above criteria, please contact Josh Jones on (phone number removed) or email (url removed).
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