Associate director

Associate / Associate Director - Town Planning
Location: Newcastle (Hybrid / Flexible Working)

An established and highly regarded UK planning and environmental consultancy is seeking an experienced Associate or Associate Director Planner to join its growing Newcastle Town Planning team.

This is a senior opportunity for a commercially astute planning professional with a strong track record in delivering major development and infrastructure projects. You'll work across a diverse portfolio that includes DCOs, renewable energy, hydrogen, transport, waste management, regeneration, residential, leisure, industrial and commercial developments, alongside some of the most respected planning specialists in the industry.

The Role
As an Associate / Associate Director, you will combine technical excellence with leadership and commercial capability. You will support the Newcastle office lead in developing the planning team, growing market presence, and delivering high-quality outcomes for clients.

Key responsibilities include:
Leading and delivering development planning work, providing authoritative advice to clients
Supporting the growth and development of the Newcastle planning team
Managing commercial aspects of projects, including fees, governance, resourcing and job costings
Leading and contributing to multidisciplinary bids for major infrastructure and development projects
Building and maintaining strong client relationships and driving repeat and new business
Managing project delivery to ensure a consistently high-quality, professional service
Line managing colleagues, including mentoring, coaching and performance reviews

About You
You'll be a confident and credible planning professional with the ability to lead complex projects and influence at senior levels.

You will bring:
A degree or postgraduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (RTPI accredited)
Chartered Membership of the RTPI (or equivalent professional body)
Extensive private sector experience within multidisciplinary planning or consents teams
Strong understanding of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the development consent process
In-depth knowledge of planning law, procedures and commercial drivers
Evidence of winning, managing and delivering large or complex development projects
Excellent stakeholder management, collaboration and relationship-building skills
High-quality report writing skills with the ability to communicate clearly and confidently
A strong professional network and established industry profile

What's On Offer
Clear and supported career progression opportunities
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
Pension contributions, private healthcare and professional membership fees covered
Regular social events and cross-office team activities
Employee ownership structure, offering tax-free bonuses and a genuine voice in the business

This organisation places real value on work-life balance, flexible working and long-term career development, making it an excellent choice for senior planners looking to take the next step.

Apply
To apply, please submit your CV via the job board or contact me directly on (phone number removed) or (url removed)

Reference - 63790