Job Description

Senior/Principal Town Planner - Infrastructure & Development Projects

Location: North of England - Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield

Penguin Recruitment is supporting a respected multi-disciplinary consultancy in their search for experienced Senior or Principal Town Planners to join their Planning & Environmental team in the North of England. This consultancy is at the forefront of sustainable development, infrastructure delivery, and planning policy, working with major public and private sector clients across the UK and internationally. Their focus includes Net Zero, Biodiversity Net Gain, and digital transformation, offering an opportunity to work with a forward-thinking planning team.

The Opportunity: Join a dynamic planning team supporting clients in Energy, Water, Transport, Defence, and Housing sectors. Key clients include the Environment Agency, Highways England, Homes England, Network Rail, Transport for the North, High Speed 2, the GLA, and the Ministry of Defence. You will work on strategic planning, policy, and infrastructure delivery projects across local authorities, LEPs, and private developers.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead planning projects, including major applications and strategic planning.
2. Manage multi-disciplinary teams on complex schemes.
3. Oversee project delivery, including programme and budget management.
4. Support bid writing and framework submissions.
5. Mentor junior team members and contribute to team development.
6. Engage with clients and market leads to drive business growth.

What We're Looking For:

• A degree in Town Planning or a related field (RTPI membership desirable).
• Experience delivering projects under TCPA, DCO, TWAO, or equivalent regimes.
• Strong understanding of EIA, planning policy, and infrastructure planning.
• Excellent communication skills, including report writing and presenting.
• Ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience developing client relationships and contributing to business development.
• A collaborative mindset with leadership confidence within multi-disciplinary teams.

Why Join?

• Work on nation-shaping infrastructure projects with a leading consultancy.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
• Supportive, inclusive environment focused on career growth.
• Competitive salary, annual bonus, and benefits package.
• Genuine commitment to sustainability, equality, and social value initiatives.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a driven and experienced Planner to contribute to impactful and strategic projects across the UK. For more information or a confidential chat, contact Josh Jones at Penguin Recruitment.