Job Description
Town Planning Director
Bristol
This is a rare opportunity for an accomplished Planning Director to play a leading role within a highly regarded and growing consultancy in Bristol, shaping both major development projects and the future direction of the regional planning team.
We are seeking a senior, commercially astute planner with a strong market profile, capable of leading complex planning strategies, growing client relationships, and driving the continued expansion of a successful South West planning business.
The Role
As Planning Director, you will take a strategic leadership role, combining hands‑on involvement in high‑profile projects with responsibility for team leadership, business development and regional growth.
You will work on some of the most significant and transformative schemes in Bristol and the wider South West, including:
1. Major city-centre and brownfield regeneration projects
2. Large-scale mixed-use, residential and commercial developments
3. Science, technology, R&D and innovation-led schemes
4. Strategic land and long-term promotion projects
You will collaborate closely with colleagues across development, agency, capital markets, rural and building consultancy teams, providing clients with integrated, commercially focused advice.
Key Responsibilities
5. Providing strategic planning advice to key clients and stakeholders
6. Leading and overseeing complex planning applications, appeals and development strategies
7. Acting as a senior point of contact with local planning authorities, statutory consultees and elected members
8. Representing clients at meetings, committees and public consultations
9. Driving business development, securing new instructions and growing existing client relationships
10. Playing a central role in shaping the growth and direction of the Bristol planning team
11. Mentoring, managing and developing senior and junior planners
12. Contributing to wider office and departmental leadership initiatives
13. Managing commercial performance, project budgets and risk
About You
14. MRTPI qualified with significant post‑qualification experience
15. Proven track record at Associate Director / Director level within consultancy or a comparable senior public-sector role
16. Strong commercial awareness and client-facing experience
17. Demonstrable success in winning work and growing client accounts
18. Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills
19. Deep understanding of the planning system and current policy environment
20. Motivated by building teams, developing people and shaping places
Why This Opportunity?
21. Leadership role within a growing and ambitious Bristol planning team
22. Opportunity to influence major regeneration and development outcomes
23. High level of autonomy, profile and responsibility
24. Collaborative, multidisciplinary environment where leadership is valued
25. Clear scope to shape regional growth and long-term strategy
26. Culture that rewards performance, initiative and contribution rather than tenure
Reward & Benefits
27. Highly competitive salary and performance-related bonus
28. Pension scheme and life assurance
29. Car allowance
30. Private medical insurance and wellbeing support
31. Enhanced family-friendly policies
32. Generous holiday allowance plus wellbeing days
33. Professional development and leadership support
34. Regular social, team and business-wide events
Get in touch
Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.