Associate Partner/Director

Associate Partner / Director – Town Planning

Location: Essex Region

Salary: c. £60,000-70,000

Working Pattern: Hybrid – typically 1–2 days per week remote, mainly in the office with flexible working hours

Level: Associate Partner / Director

Sector: Town Planning / Residential Development

The Opportunity

We are working with an established and growing planning consultancy that is looking to appoint an experienced Associate Partner / Director-level Town Planner to support the continued organic growth of the business.

This is a newly created opportunity driven by increasing workload and the need for additional senior capacity within the planning team.

The successful candidate will play an important role in managing an existing caseload, supporting clients through the planning process and helping to shape the future growth of the planning function.

There is also scope for the successful individual to bring existing client relationships and work to the business , helping to expand the team and develop the company's presence within the residential development sector.

The Role

The role will have a strong focus on housing developer-led planning work , providing strategic and hands-on planning advice across a range of residential development projects.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing an existing caseload of residential planning projects.
• Acting as a trusted planning advisor to a range of established housebuilding and development clients.
• Supporting projects from initial planning stages through to delivery and implementation.
• Managing sites currently in planning and under construction , providing advice throughout the development lifecycle.
• Preparing and managing planning applications and appeals .
• Taking ownership of projects from inception through to completion.
• Working directly with clients, consultants, local authorities and other project stakeholders.
• Providing strategic planning advice and identifying opportunities to progress and improve schemes.
• Contributing to the continued growth and development of the planning team.
• Developing new business opportunities and, where appropriate, bringing existing client relationships and instructions into the business.

The position is deliberately flexible in terms of seniority.

The business is open to appointing at Associate, Associate Partner or Director level , depending on the experience, capability and ambitions of the individual.

Experience & Qualifications

We are looking for an experienced Town Planner with around 10 years' professional experience , although the business is more interested in capability and fit than a strict number of years.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience within residential development and housing-led planning .
• Experience gained within either a planning consultancy or client-side environment .
• A strong understanding of the planning process, including applications, appeals and project management.
• Experience managing a varied caseload and working autonomously.
• The ability to manage projects and client relationships with minimal supervision.
• MRTPI chartership .

Experience working with major residential developers would be particularly valuable. Existing exposure to clients.

About You

This role would suit someone who is confident operating at a senior level but who also enjoys being hands-on with projects and clients.

You will ideally be:

• Independent and comfortable taking ownership of your workload.
• Collaborative , with a genuine interest in working as part of a close-knit team.
• Commercially aware and interested in contributing to business growth.
• A confident communicator with strong client management skills.
• Professional and dependable, with a high level of professional integrity .
• Comfortable working across both strategic and technical aspects of planning.
• Interested in playing a meaningful role in the continued development of a growing consultancy.

The Company

The business is an established consultancy with a team of approximately 10 people , currently with a dedicated town planning function.

The company operates from a characterful converted barn office , providing an open-plan and collaborative working environment.

This is an opportunity to join a growing business where a senior hire will have genuine influence over the direction and development of the planning offering.

What's on Offer

• Salary of around £60,000-70,000 , depending on experience.
• Full benefits package .
• Flexible working hours.
• Hybrid working, typically 1–2 days out of office .
• Significant autonomy and responsibility.
• Opportunity to help shape and grow the planning team.
• Potential to develop existing client relationships and bring new work into the business.
• Scope for the role to develop towards Associate Partner or Director level , depending on experience and ambitions.