Overview

in planning policy project wins and new opportunities, we are looking to bring in a Principal Planner to work with senior colleagues to manage our growing workload. We are looking for an outstanding consultant with proven experience in planning policy and strategy and project management. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic thinker with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality work and driving business growth. You will be based in our flagship London Aldgate Tower office, though other locations may be considered, including Basingstoke, Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Chesterfield, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, and Plymouth. We operate a hybrid working model, giving you the flexibility to balance time between our office and working from home, depending on your needs and the requirements of the role. This position is available on either a full-time or part-time basis, allowing us to tailor the role to suit your individual circumstances.

What you’ll do

• Team Leadership and Development – Participate in the successful operation and management of the town planning team
• Planning Strategy and Expertise – Lead and assist on key planning policy projects, including supporting local authority policy and strategy development, coordination and delivery of local plan evidence studies, strategic growth studies, infrastructure strategies and other policy and strategy commissions
• Offer strategic planning advice to other client and internal teams
• Provide effective representation for the organisation, developing and managing relationships with clients, local authorities and other stakeholders through project work and through attendance at conferences and other networking events
• Sharing technical knowledge and excellence
• Project Management – Ensure projects are delivered successfully on budget and within programme timelines
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams for seamless project execution
• Quality Assurance and Compliance – Oversee the deliverables produced by the planning policy team; implement and uphold quality assurance and health and safety principles
• Business Development – Contribute to the business development strategy, nurturing client relationships; lead and assist in the preparation of commercial tenders to secure new opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience – Significant relevant experience of leading and contributing to planning policy and strategy development in a consultancy or public sector role
• Client & Stakeholder Relations – Client focus, with good interpersonal skills and a collaborative working approach; existing relationships with clients and local authorities; a business development mindset with demonstrable experience of work winning and developing relationships with existing and new clients
• Skills – Ability to produce high quality technical reports and excellent communication skills; ability to work on your own initiative and under pressure
• Quality & Commitment – High level of commitment to quality

About our team

AECOM is a top ten UK planning consultancy by size, employing more than 70 Chartered or Licentiate Planners. The AECOM Planning Practice projects include many of the UK’s largest, most complex and high-profile development and regeneration projects for public and private sector clients. We work closely with colleagues in other related disciplines, including masterplanning, landscape, environment, sustainability, transport and economics. Examples of our project work include Sub-Regional Spatial Plans, Local Plans, Strategic Masterplans and Neighbourhood Planning. Since 2011 we have supported several hundred local communities with neighbourhood plan making and offer expertise across all aspects of the plan-making process, including scoping, evidence base production, stakeholder engagement, appraisal, option development, plan production, design, delivery, adoption and monitoring.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle—from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. We operate globally with a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. We are a Fortune 500 firm with extensive reach and capabilities. We offer hybrid work options and a comprehensive benefits package. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Disability Confident Employer. All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.