Associate Town Planner – Belfast or Edinburgh
Tetra Tech is seeking an experienced Associate Town Planner to join our growing Planning team. This role offers an excellent opportunity to progress your career within a leading multidisciplinary consultancy, delivering strategic planning advice across a diverse portfolio of projects.
Purpose & Scope of the Role
As an Associate Town Planner you will play a key role in the delivery of planning projects from early conception through to consent and post‑consent stages. You will support senior guidance while progressively taking ownership of project delivery and client relationships.
The position is client‑facing and involves leading planning applications, managing consultants and stakeholders, and contributing to multi‑disciplinary project teams. Responsibilities include progressing projects through the planning process, managing submissions, responding to consultee feedback, and discharging planning conditions. Projects may span different planning jurisdictions with occasional travel.
Your Impact in this Position
Your technical expertise, professional judgement, and project leadership will directly influence the successful delivery of development proposals across a wide range of sectors. You will help clients navigate complex planning systems, manage risk, and achieve positive outcomes in a timely and commercially effective manner.
Planning & Technical Expertise
Strong grounding in planning practice with experience leading projects and progressing applications through to consent. Understanding of planning policy, process, and decision‑making to provide clear, practical advice tailored to client needs. Experience of Environmental Impact Assessment and energy‑related development is advantageous, though not essential.
Project & Consultancy Delivery
Ability to manage projects effectively from conception to completion, balancing competing deadlines and priorities. Comfortable working autonomously while contributing positively within collaborative, multi‑disciplinary teams.
Client Engagement & Communication
Clear and confident communication with clients, stakeholders, and project teams. Strong written and verbal skills to support high‑quality reports, planning statements, and correspondence.
Multi‑Disciplinary Collaboration
Comfortable working within and leading multi‑disciplinary project teams, integrating planning considerations with environmental, engineering, and design inputs to deliver coordinated, high‑quality outcomes.
Professional Communication & Reporting
Production of clear, accurate, and persuasive written outputs, including planning statements, supporting documents, and correspondence. Verbal communication skills support confident participation in meetings, presentations, and client discussions.
Mandatory Requirements
• Substantial experience in a planning role.
• Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or Irish Planning Institute (IPI).
• Demonstrable experience of leading projects under senior guidance, taking schemes from early concept through to planning consent and condition discharge.
• Comfortable operating within a professional consultancy environment and contributing to collaborative, multi‑disciplinary teams.
Desirable Experience
* Renewable energy and/or energy infrastructure consenting
* Experience of both Northern Irish / Irish and Scottish planning systems
* Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Work Patterns and Locations
The role is ideally based in Belfast, though Edinburgh may be considered. Hybrid working is supported with a phased and flexible approach agreed to suit individual and project requirements.
Why Join Tetra Tech?
Tetra Tech is a leading global provider of consulting and engineering services, supporting clients across the full project lifecycle. Our strength lies in technical expertise, collaborative culture, and sustainable solutions. We are committed to inclusive and supportive workplaces, empowering individuals to perform, innovate, and progress their careers.
In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments will be made to support candidates and employees who require additional arrangements throughout the recruitment process or in the workplace. Please let us know if you require any accommodations.
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