Principal Town Planner - #2187669

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Start here. Grown Here.

We have an opportunity for a Principal Town Planner to work on infrastructure planning projects across the UK, with a particular expertise and focus on DCO projects. We have an impressive portfolio of involvement in major infrastructure projects, including delivery of projects through various consenting regimes including DCOs. We are currently leading on planning applications for renewables and wider energy/electricity related infrastructure, transport, defence, water and much more.

You will be able to work on a range of prestigious infrastructure projects for our clients in the energy transition, rail and water development sectors, as well as a range of regional and local developments. AECOM is a market leader in UK infrastructure development, with experience of over 80 DCO projects. Join us now and you could be working on:

• numerous solar DCOs with a pipeline of future work;
• carbon capture and storage projects;
• energy transmission schemes;
• large aviation and rail projects; and
• housing and mixed-use development consenting.

We are passionate about delivering planning to support complex projects.

As our Town Planning team is national, and we support hybrid working we are flexible in terms of base location. The role can be based from our offices in Birmingham, Basingstoke, Bristol, Cardiff, Chesterfield, London - Aldgate Tower, Manchester, and St Albans offices.

You will be joining a great team; you will have an interesting and diverse workload and you will be given the opportunity to make the most of your abilities.

Here's what you'll do:

You will be joining a market leading, experienced infrastructure planning team and will, be given the following responsibilities.

Project Leadership and Delivery

• Lead and assist in the delivery of major development applications.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across various project types.
• Submit and manage planning applications, including liaising and negotiating with local planning authorities and key stakeholders.

Planning and Advisory Services

• Provide planning advice to colleagues and clients on consent requirements and permitted development rights.
• Produce planning feasibility reports and consent strategies.
• Write Planning Statements and Design and Access Statements for development applications.

Client and Business Development

• Contribute to business development in specific market sectors, including sector strategy.
• Identify opportunities and build client relationships.
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of successful commercial tenders.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with the Environmental Impact Assessment team.
• Participate in internal and external meetings with stakeholders.

Project and Operational Management

• Oversee project management, ensuring quality and adherence to health and safety principles.

Does this sound like something you can do, and do well? If so, read on…

About our team

AECOM's rapidly growing Town Planning team plays a key role in delivering major infrastructure and development projects.

AECOM is a top ten UK planning consultancy by size, employing more than 70 Chartered or Licentiate Planners. AECOM is also a worldwide leader in environmental and engineering consultancy and working as a planning consultant within AECOM means access to some of the highest profile and prestigious development projects in the UK, working with colleagues operating at the cutting edge of their disciplines as part of the largest UK environmental consultancy.

Become part of our Environment business, and collaborate with top-tier planners, impact assessment specialists and project managers to consent a variety of captivating projects, from local developments to major and national infrastructure, from developing planning strategies to obtaining consent and post consent work. At AECOM, you'll thrive in an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued.

Come grow with us.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Ready to push the limits of what's possible?

Here's what we're looking for:

Education & Professional Memberships

• Degree in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or an equivalent professional body.

Experience

• Significant relevant experience of leading applications for planning consent for large infrastructure projects across a range of consenting regimes.
• Expert witness experience would be advantageous.

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 write clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and under pressure.

Quality & Commitment

• High level of commitment to quality.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.