Job Title: Associate / Associate Director - Town PlanningLocation: Newcastle Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading UK planning and environmental consultancy in the appointment of an Associate / Associate Director Planner to join their growing Newcastle office. This is a senior leadership opportunity within a highly respected consultancy that is actively involved in multiple Development Consent Order (DCO) projects, alongside a diverse portfolio of major infrastructure and development schemes. These include renewable energy, hydrogen, transport, waste management, regeneration, residential, leisure, industrial and commercial development. The business works with some of the UK's largest and most prestigious organisations and has played a role in delivering some of the country's most innovative developments. Continued success has resulted in a strong and secure order book. The Role This position requires an experienced planning professional with a proven track record in directing and delivering major development projects. You will bring strong commercial awareness, excellent technical capability and outstanding interpersonal skills. The role offers genuine scope for career progression and the opportunity to work alongside some of the UK's leading planning professionals on high-profile projects. A key element of the role will be supporting the Newcastle office lead in growing the consultancy's presence across the North East, while also playing an important role in the mentoring and professional development of the planning team. Key Responsibilities Supporting the growth and development of the Town Planning team in NewcastleLeading development planning work and providing authoritative advice to clientsManaging the commercial aspects of commissions, including governance, fee management, job costings and resourcingLeading and contributing to multidisciplinary bid submissions for major infrastructure and development projectsGenerating repeat business and identifying new business and market opportunitiesManaging client relationships and service delivery across a range of projectsTaking responsibility for quality, accuracy and consistency of work delivered at all stagesCollaborating closely with internal transport and landscape teams to deliver integrated servicesLine managing colleagues, including performance reviews, mentoring and coaching About You Degree or postgraduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (RTPI accredited)Chartered Member of the RTPI (or equivalent professional body)Proven experience delivering successful applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and/or the Planning Act 2008Extensive private sector experience within multidisciplinary consent teamsStrong understanding of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the development consent processIn-depth knowledge of planning law, procedures and commercial driversDemonstrable experience winning and managing large or complex development projectsExcellent written skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports independentlyStrong stakeholder management skills and a collaborative, relationship-focused approachA well-established professional network and industry profileCompetent user of Microsoft Office What's On Offer Highly competitive salary and annual bonusExcellent career progression opportunitiesPension contributions, private healthcare and professional fees paidFlexible working arrangements, including home working and office-based collaborationA strong commitment to work-life balanceFriendly, supportive and collaborative company culture with regular social and team events Interested?The hiring manager is looking to meet with suitable candidates ASAP so if you meet the above criteria, please contact Josh Jones on or