associate director/ director

Associate Director / Director - Planning

Location: Manchester
Salary: £65,000/£85,000
Type: Full-time

A leading national planning and development consultancy is looking to appoint an experienced Associate Director or Director to join its established Manchester team.

The business has a strong reputation across the North West, working on high-profile and complex projects across a broad range of sectors. Its Manchester team operates collaboratively across planning, development consultancy, land promotion and plan-making, advising both public and private sector clients.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional looking to take a senior role within a well-established consultancy, with the opportunity to lead projects, develop client relationships, win new work and play an important role in the continued growth of the Manchester office.

The Role

As an Associate Director / Director, you will take a senior position within the Manchester planning team, leading complex planning instructions and providing strategic advice to a diverse client base.

You will have significant involvement in business development, client management and project leadership, while working collaboratively with colleagues across the wider national business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex planning and development projects from inception through to delivery.
• Provide strategic planning advice to private and public sector clients.
• Lead the preparation and submission of major planning applications and supporting documentation.
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate external consultants.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities across the North West.
• Prepare and oversee planning statements, representations, development appraisals and other technical reports.
• Advise on development strategies, planning policy and the wider planning process.
• Support land promotion and strategic development opportunities.
• Contribute to local plan and policy work where appropriate.
• Represent clients at meetings with local authorities, stakeholders and other professional advisers.
• Provide mentoring, leadership and development opportunities to more junior members of the team.
• Contribute to the continued growth and profile of the Manchester office.

The Manchester team has experience across areas including housing, mixed-use regeneration, town centres and retail, infrastructure, health, student accommodation, energy and waste, and commercial development.

Requirements

• Significant professional experience within town planning, ideally gained within a planning consultancy.
• MRTPI qualification is essential or highly desirable for the seniority of the position.
• Strong technical knowledge of the UK planning system and development process.
• Proven experience managing complex planning projects.
• Demonstrable experience dealing with clients and senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and an ability to identify opportunities for business development.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating external consultants.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of planning policy and development management.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities and deadlines effectively.
• A proactive, commercially minded and collaborative approach.
• Existing relationships across the North West planning and development market would be advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience and seniority.
• Opportunity to work on high-profile and complex projects across the North West.
• Strong career progression opportunities within a national planning consultancy.
• Exposure to a broad range of sectors and development projects.
• Flexible approach to working, with Lichfields highlighting an emphasis on outcomes rather than simply office hours.
• Employee ownership through an Employee Benefit Trust.
• Profit-sharing through staff bonuses.
• Supportive and collaborative working culture.
• Opportunities to work with colleagues and specialist teams across the firm's national offices.
• Access to professional development, knowledge-sharing and specialist expert groups.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a business with an established presence in the North West and a strong track record of working on significant planning and development projects.

The Manchester team describes its approach as collaborative, entrepreneurial and focused on solving complex planning and development issues, with opportunities to work alongside colleagues and specialists across the wider national business.

For an experienced Associate Director or Director looking to progress their career, develop client relationships and take a leading role within a growing Manchester planning team, this position offers a broad and varied senior-level opportunity.

Interested? If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please email your CV to (url removed). Please include details of your current experience, location and availability, and a member of the recruitment team will be in touch.