Planner / Senior Planner.
Strategic Land (Town Planning/RTPI).
Maidenhead | Residential Development | Large-Scale Mixed-Use Projects.
Cognisant Search is seeking a Planner or Senior Planner to join a well-established, financially strong business, supporting the delivery of major strategic land projects across London and the South East.
This role is open to graduates or early-career planners with up to 1–3 years’ experience providing hands-on exposure to complex, high-value sites. It is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into how land is promoted, allocated, and prepared for delivery, while learning from experienced teams and contributing to decision-making from day one.
About the Role
You will be part of a planning team that supports the full lifecycle of strategic land projects. The role combines practical programme management, technical planning, and early-stage site promotion, offering a strong foundation for career progression in planning.
Responsibilities & Learning Opportunities
* Support the preparation and ongoing management of project programmes across strategic land and mixed-use schemes, learning how programmes drive project delivery and decision-making
* Work closely with project and technical teams to understand sequencing, constraints, and delivery requirements, building insight into the full planning process
* Assist with reporting, progress updates, and milestone tracking, developing an understanding of how planning informs commercial and operational outcomes
* Contribute to programme reviews, planning submissions, and early-stage site promotion activities, gaining exposure to both technical and strategic aspects of land development
* Gain practical experience with planning tools, software, and methodologies, applied to live strategic land projects
* Work alongside senior planners and multidisciplinary teams, receiving mentorship and building a foundation for long-term career growth
Candidate Profile
* Degree-qualified (or equivalent) in planning, construction, engineering, or a related field
* Qualified planner (e.g., RTPI accredited) or 1–3 years’ post-graduate experience in town planning, consultancy, local authority, education, or developer environments
* Interest in strategic land, plan-making, and project delivery
* Strong communication skills with a proactive, problem-solving mindset
* Curious, motivated, and eager to learn from experienced professionals
What’s on Offer
* Structured development and mentoring within an established planning function
* Exposure to strategic land and complex residential or mixed-use projects
* Insight into planning, promotion, and programme management across long-term development opportunities
* Opportunity to contribute to early-stage land promotion and strategic decision-making
* Clear progression pathway into Planning Management roles in the short term.
Contact.
For a confidential discussion or to request further information, please contact: Dan Petrie, Principal Consultant, Cognisant 07487 795148