Associate /Associate Director Town Planner (Planning Consultancy) Cambridge

About WSP

WSP is one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

About the Planning Consultancy Team

The Planning Consultancy team in Cambridge specialise in providing commercial planning advice to a wide-range of private sector clients. We provide advice and support on development proposals throughout the planning process. Our projects range from complex city centre regeneration sites, tall buildings, strategic housing promotion, repurposing town centres, retail development, sports and leisure, logistics and major business parks, major infrastructure and energy schemes, through to detailed listed building reuse. We are proud to be involved in leading some of the region's largest and most high-profile schemes.

The Role

As an experienced Associate or Associate Director, you will provide high-quality planning advice to clients and manage major development projects throughout the planning process.

Key responsibilities:

• Providing high quality planning advice to clients at all stages of the development process
• Working with multidisciplinary teams on planning projects
• Leading client meetings
• Project management and budgetary control on projects
• Supporting more junior staff
• Supporting Senior colleagues on large-scale, complex projects whilst managing your own projects
• Collaborating with WSP colleagues to deliver multi disciplinary advice, liaising with clients and statutory bodies
• Managing key client relationships
• Leading tenders and framework bids
• Active business development and profile raising

What We're Looking For

Essential experience and skills:

• Significant experience with the planning process including EIA, EIP / plan promotion, appeals
• Extensive knowledge of managing and leading major developments
• Experience with negotiations with planning authorities and stakeholders
• Project management of multi disciplinary teams
• Strong technical skills
• Client management experience and private sector consultancy experience
• Strong analytical skills
• Drive and determination
• Outstanding organisational skills
• Strong client relationships
• MRTPI qualified
• Keen to grow into a leadership role within a supportive team

Advantageous:

• A network of contacts across East Anglia

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic team player with a can do attitude and 'win-win' focus. The candidate will have a proven ability to deliver to a high standard, strong communication skills, passion to share their knowledge and a desire to learn and contribute to the on-going success of our team. You should have a track record of client management and development and an appetite to work with Directors to grow your business network and the profile of the team.

What's In It For You

Work-life balance

• Hybrid working policy offering the flexibility to work from home two days a week
• Opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK
• Part-time and flexible working arrangements available
• "WSP My Hour" scheme allowing one hour each day for personal activities, with flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day
• Option to purchase additional leave
• Ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you

Health & Wellbeing

• Thrive programme supporting your health and wellbeing
• Virtual GP service giving you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you
• Reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need
• Gymflex scheme offering up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program
• Comprehensive menopause support package

Your development

• Supportive environment that invests in your growth through training, mentoring, or Chartership

Inclusivity & Belonging

• We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences
• We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society
• We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP
• Employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity

Equal Opportunities

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. Please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.