Senior Associate Town Planner

Morson Edge are working with a leading employee-owned multidisciplinary consultancy to recruit a Senior Associate Town Planner to join their growing Planning team. This is a permanent opportunity based in either Bristol or London, offering flexible and hybrid working alongside a competitive salary and benefits package.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced MRTPI-qualified planner to step into a senior leadership position within a highly respected planning, design and placemaking consultancy. The successful candidate will play a key role in leading major development projects, managing client relationships, supporting business growth and helping shape the future direction of an expanding planning team.

Working within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment alongside architects, urban designers and landscape architects, you will deliver strategic planning advice across a diverse portfolio of projects spanning education, healthcare, regeneration, mixed-use development, innovation and institutional sectors. You will also form part of the wider leadership team, contributing to team development, project performance and business strategy.

The Opportunity

As a Senior Associate, you will combine project leadership, client management and team development responsibilities, supporting both the successful delivery of projects and the continued growth of the planning team.

You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, lead complex planning applications and development projects, contribute to business development activities and support the development of junior team members.

This position offers the opportunity to influence strategic business decisions whilst working on nationally significant projects that shape communities and the built environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage major planning applications and complex development projects
• Provide strategic planning advice to public and private sector clients
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor
• Prepare and review planning strategies, reports and submissions
• Support business development activities, including bid preparation and winning new work
• Mentor and develop junior members of the planning team
• Assist with team leadership, resource planning and recruitment activities
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated development solutions
• Support the commercial and financial performance of projects and the wider planning team

Essential Skills & Experience

• MRTPI Chartered Town Planner
• Minimum 5 years’ post-qualification planning experience
• Strong background in development management, planning applications and strategic planning
• Experience leading complex planning projects from inception through to determination
• Proven client-facing and stakeholder management skills
• Experience managing project budgets and commercial performance
• Strong communication, report writing and presentation skills
• Ability to mentor and develop colleagues within a collaborative team environment

Desirable Experience

Experience across one or more of the following sectors:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Mixed-use regeneration
• Institutional development
• Science, technology and innovation
• Commercial development

Previous team management, business development or leadership experience would be advantageous.

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Employee ownership structure with opportunities to share in business success
• Private healthcare
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Structured career progression and professional development support
• Opportunity to work on high-profile and nationally significant projects
• Collaborative multidisciplinary working environment
• Inclusive and people-focused company culture

If you are an experienced Chartered Planner looking to step into a senior leadership role within a forward-thinking consultancy, we would be keen to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV or contact Jonah Peto at Morson Edge for a confidential discussion.

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