Senior/Principal Planning Consultant

Job Title: Senior Planner | Principal Planner

Location: Bristol or Cardiff

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading multidisciplinary consultancy in its search for a Senior or Principal Planning Consultant to join its growing and highly respected planning team in either Bristol or Cardiff.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of one of the UK's leading planning consultancies, working on some of the country's most significant infrastructure and development projects across sectors including energy, transport, utilities, ports, and major development schemes.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative, forward-thinking team at the forefront of sustainable development, Net Zero initiatives, environmental planning, and strategic infrastructure delivery.

The Role

As a Senior or Principal Planning Consultant, you will play a key role in the delivery of complex planning and consenting projects, working closely with multidisciplinary teams and a broad client base.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as Planning Lead or supporting lead across a diverse portfolio of projects.
• Managing project delivery and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Preparing and contributing to bids, tender submissions, and framework responses.
• Providing planning advice across infrastructure and development projects.
• Supporting and mentoring junior members of the planning team.
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships and identifying business development opportunities.
• Preparing high-quality reports, presentations, and planning submissions.
• Working collaboratively with environmental, engineering, and design specialists across a wide range of projects.

About You

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A degree in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• MRTPI status or be working towards chartership.
• Experience within planning consultancy, infrastructure planning, or major development projects.
• A strong understanding of the Town and Country Planning Act, Development Consent Orders (DCO), Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAO), or similar consenting regimes.
• Knowledge of Environmental Impact Assessment processes and strategic planning principles would be advantageous.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to clients and stakeholders.
• A proactive, resilient, and commercially minded approach.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Exposure to nationally significant infrastructure and development projects.
• Excellent training and professional development opportunities.
• Clear pathways for career progression within a highly regarded consultancy.
• A supportive, collaborative, and inclusive working environment.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Town Planner looking to take the next step in their career and contribute to the delivery of some of the UK's most exciting and complex planning projects.

Interested?

The hiring manager is looking to meet with suitable candidates ASAP so if you meet the above criteria, please contact Josh Jones on (phone number removed) or (url removed)