Associate Town Planner

Associate Planner / Associate Director
Location: Bristol
Salary: £60,000/£75,000

Penguin Recruitment is proud to be partnered with a leading multidisciplinary planning consultancy as they continue to expand their successful South West planning team. This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious Associate Planner or Associate Director to join a highly respected consultancy, working on a diverse portfolio of strategic planning projects while playing an integral role in the continued growth of the business.

This position offers the chance to work on high-profile residential planning applications and land promotion projects alongside experts in development economics, heritage, masterplanning, architecture, and design. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to build their own client base, contribute to business development, and help shape the future growth strategy of the regional team.

The Role

As an Associate Planner / Associate Director, you will be responsible for:

• Advising clients on the development potential of land and buildings.

• Preparing and managing planning applications and planning appeals.

• Providing planning policy advice and undertaking strategic planning research.

• Drafting representations for Local Plan consultations and examinations.

• Identifying and promoting land opportunities.

• Managing projects from initial planning strategy through to securing planning permission and negotiating planning conditions and obligations.

• Working closely with clients, local authorities, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful development projects.

• Supporting business development initiatives and developing long-term client relationships.

• Contributing thought leadership through industry articles and knowledge-based publications.

Requirements

To be considered, you should have:

• A relevant Planning qualification.

• Chartered membership of the RTPI.

• Previous planning experience within the South West region.

• A comprehensive understanding of the UK planning system and development process.

• Excellent report writing skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

• A proactive, commercially minded approach with a passion for winning work and developing clients.

• The ability to work collaboratively while taking ownership of projects and mentoring junior team members.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary with an excellent benefits package.

• Private medical insurance.

• Payment of relevant professional subscriptions.

• Hybrid and agile working with excellent flexibility.

• The opportunity to influence regional business growth and strategy.

• Exposure to a varied portfolio of residential planning and land promotion projects.

• Clear opportunities for career progression within a growing multidisciplinary consultancy.

• A collaborative culture built on trust, autonomy, and professional development.

Whether you're an experienced Associate Planner looking to step into a more senior leadership role or an established Associate Director seeking a fresh challenge, this is an excellent opportunity to further your career within a forward-thinking consultancy.

If you're interested in this opportunity, please contact (url removed) or call (phone number removed) for a confidential discussion.