Associate Director/Director (DCO)

My client is one of the leading planning and environmental consultancies in the UK. The company is currently engaged in multiple DCO projects, together with a variety of other major infrastructure and development projects including renewable energy, hydrogen, transport, waste management, regeneration, residential, leisure, industrial and commercial development.

Responsibilities:
• Help grow the existing teams of Town Planners in the current offices or, for the right candidate, develop a new office location.
• Leading development planning work and providing authoritative planning advice to clients
• Managing commercial aspects of commissions and/or projects including governance, fee management activities, together with internal job costings and resource requirements
• Leading multidisciplinary bid submissions for major infrastructure and development projects.
• Playing a key role in generating repeat business and new business opportunities/market opportunities.
• Managing client relationships and service delivery on a project basis in conjunction with other colleagues.
• Taking the lead, setting the pace, and monitoring all work executed, at all stages to ensure that an accurate, professional and high-quality service is delivered to clients.
• Collaborate with other teams (Transport and Landscape) to provide services and develop opportunities for new work.
• Manage colleagues, including undertaking performance and development reviews and mentoring/coaching.

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Qualities and Attributes:
• A degree or post graduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (RTPI accredited) with Chartered membership of RTPI or an equivalent professional town planning organisation.
• A Proven track record of playing a key role in successful development consent applications under the Town and County Planning Act 1990 and / or the Planning Act 2008.
• Extensive relevant experience working in the private sector in multi-disciplinary consents team environments.
• A thorough understanding of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and its relationship with the development consent process
• A sound, in-depth knowledge of planning law and procedures & strong commercial awareness.
• Ability to work on own initiative and deliver high quality work to-programme and within budget.
• Evidence of winning and managing large or complex development projects.
• Excellent collaboration skills and proven experience of building successful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Client and colleague relationship-focused, with good interpersonal skills and collaborative working approach
• Excellent report drafting skills and the ability to write clearly, concisely and confidently with minimal assistance or overview
• An extensive professional network and high profile within the industry.
• Competent in the use of the Microsoft Office suite of programmes

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This company provides great opportunities for career progression, highly competitive salaries, annual bonuses, and a range of working benefits including pension contributions, private healthcare, and payment of professional fees.

Recognising the importance of a healthy work-life balance amongst all colleagues and regularly reviewing ways of working to improve this as well as holding regular social events each year shows the attention to detail within the culture.