Technical Director/Associate Director Town Planner

AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancy firms offering unparalleled opportunities for talented individuals in search of a rewarding career. At AtkinsRéalis we offer more than just a job. We offer an opportunity to make a difference and shape the world to benefit future generations and the environment. We have a strong Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ethos.

You'll join one of the UK's leading planning consultancies at the forefront of thought leadership in sustainable infrastructure and development, from Net Zero to ESG, Biodiversity Net Gain and digital transformation. We care about outcomes for our clients and the unprecedented challenges they face including climate change, social inclusion and rapid urbanisation. The work we do is important and influential: it shapes the way our clients think, enables them to make better resolutions and to deliver their projects in a world of disruption and change. Great ideas come from great people when they collaborate – this is our core strength.

We are looking for an experienced Technical Director or Associate Director to broaden our successful and progressive team of Planning and Environmental Consultants in the North of England. Our Planning team (c60) is based throughout the UK including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow and London. We are a passionate, fun and friendly team working collaboratively within a wider Environment team.

Our team is one of the UK’s leading planning and environmental assessment consultancies, at the forefront of thought-leadership in planning and delivery of infrastructure and development and the use of digital data to support our work. We influence government thinking on infrastructure delivery and provide planning advice in the UK to central and devolved governments and their agencies, local authorities, major landowners including utilities and the private sector. We want you to come in a grow our Northern team, provide innovation and excellence to expand our team, grow our work share and drive collaboration across our Planning, Environment and Infrastructure business to leverage what AtkinsRéalis can do for our clients!

The team is strongly integrated with our transport, energy, engineering and design businesses. We are currently providing planning and environmental support on major UK projects for clients. These include a number of water companies across the UK including Yorkshire Water and Anglian Water, significant rail projects including Trans Pennine Upgrade for Network Rail and HS2, in addition to major road schemes for National Highways. We continue to expand our presence in the energy and renewables market where we are building on successes with hydrogen generation (for example Hynet at Ellesmere Port), electricity transmission (e.g. National Grid), floating offshore wind (e.g. Flotation Energy) and supporting Nuclear Waste Services. We are also directing the delivery of schemes for new homes and supporting infrastructure on a range of complex sites for Homes England. Our team also provides strategic planning advice in the UK to central government and its agencies, local enterprise partnerships, local authorities and combined authorities to deliver projects around their growth agenda.  You can find out more about the team and what we do on our Environment careers page:  

AtkinsRéalis Environment Practice (atkinsrealis.com)

The position requires a candidate that combines an excellent track record in planning with experience in directing and delivering a range of infrastructure and development projects with excellent business and people skills.

Your purpose:

• Grow an existing team of Town Planners across the UK.
• Deliver high quality Town Planning services direct to clients.
• Manage commercial aspects of commissions and/or projects including governance, fee management activities, together with internal job costings and resource requirements.
• Lead multidisciplinary bid submissions for major infrastructure and development projects.
• Play a key role in generating repeat business and new business opportunities/market opportunities.
• Manage client relationships and service delivery on a project basis in conjunction with other colleagues.
• Take the lead, setting the pace, and monitoring all work executed, at all stages to ensure that an accurate, professional and quality service is delivered to clients.
• Collaborate with the national Planning team and other AtkinsRéalis teams across the UK to provide services and develop new work.
• Manage colleagues, including undertaking performance and development reviews and mentoring/coaching.

What you can bring:

• A degree or post graduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (RTPI accredited) with Chartered membership of RTPI.
• Relevant experience working in consultancy and guiding a team.
• A sound, in-depth knowledge of planning law and procedures & sound commercial awareness.
• Evidence of winning and managing major infrastructure and development projects.
• Excellent collaboration skills and proven experience of building successful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• An extensive professional network and high profile within the industry.
• Bring a growth mindset, and ability to see opportunities that will help the business move forward.

Why work for AtkinsRéalis?

We're ranked as one of LinkedIn's Top 25 Companies, where UK professionals want to work and stay once they join. We've also made the Times Top 50 employers for women.

Our Infrastructure team uses innovation, new approaches and the power of data to help our clients deliver end-to-end projects and programmes for essential future infrastructure. And as the work becomes ever more complex, our employees continue to challenge the status quo.

We're committed to engineering better for people and our planet, from our global Engineering Net-Zero programme to creating social value through EDAROTH community housing. We're proud of our active employee networks creating awareness and allyship for our under-represented groups. Not to mention programmes supporting communities outside AtkinsRéalis, including schools, charities, ex-forces and professionals returning after career breaks.

Security clearance:

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance.  If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

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