Senior Associate Town Planner

About Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across global industries, delivering work that defines our future and makes important societal impact. As a proudly employee-owned business, we invest in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued.

About the Division

Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald's Purpose. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions across all sectors.

Overview of the Role

We are seeking an Associate Town Planner to join our expanding town planning team, based at our Birmingham office. You will support the delivery of major projects and help grow our capabilities in providing strategic advice and securing planning approvals across rail, defence, energy generation, energy and water infrastructure, climate resilience, education, health, housing, employment, mixed-use regeneration and waste-focused schemes.

You will lead and help grow the Midlands Planning Team based in our Birmingham city centre office, reporting to the UK Town Planning team leader. You will develop relationships with colleagues across the business, with a particular focus on developing links within your city region.

You will work alongside the full range of technical disciplines on some of the largest and complex infrastructure and development projects in the UK, covering energy, water, transport and the built and natural environment. Clients include Network Rail, Severn Trent, local authorities, National Highways, Environment Agency, NHS, and energy generating companies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and work as part of the planning team to deliver a range of planning projects, including working alongside and potentially project managing other disciplines as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Write and review planning deliverables to a high standard, including options appraisals, planning applications, marine licensing, environmental permitting, energy consents, TWAOs, DCOs and planning policy advice
• Project manage and coordinate the preparation of planning applications
• Liaise with Local Planning Authorities and statutory consultees to support the timely registration and determination of applications
• Prepare inputs and potentially lead bids for new work opportunities
• Support and mentor junior team members in their professional development and chartership progression

Essential Requirements

• Degree and/or Masters in Town Planning
• Chartered Member of the RTPI
• Extensive town planning experience across a range of consenting regimes, including the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Development Consent Order and Transport and Works Act Order processes
• Experience preparing and submitting planning applications, drafting reports, feasibility studies, masterplans and regeneration strategies
• Experience working with both public and private sector clients
• Previous experience delivering infrastructure, regeneration and environmental projects
• Experience overseeing and/or project managing multidisciplinary projects
• Experience supporting and mentoring junior team members
• Strong collaborative approach with experience contributing to successful project delivery
• Experience managing project finances and delivering projects within budget

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is a consequence of changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Working Arrangements

Agile working: At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Financial Wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%
• Life assurance equal to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase to 6 x your salary
• Income protection scheme providing financial benefit, absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing
• Annual bonus schemes sharing the financial success of the business

Employee Ownership

• No external investors, creating a culture of shared success
• All employees have a stake and a voice, with a direct connection to success through personal and group performance bonuses
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution
• Opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future
• Direct pathway towards ownership from day one for senior roles

Health and Wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues
• Health cash plan to support everyday health costs and treatments
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues
• Comprehensive wellbeing program with support available for you and your family
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family

Lifestyle

• Minimum of 33–35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through flexible benefits
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
• Holiday entitlement increased to minimum 35 days after 5 years' service
• Employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers

Enhanced Family and Carers Leave

• 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave
• Two weeks paid paternity/partner leave
• Shared parental leave matching maternity leave, paying up to 24 weeks at full pay
• Up to five additional days leave for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid
• Policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing

Learning and Development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription
• Broad range of opportunities to enhance technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development

Networks, Communities, and Social Outcomes

• Wide range of groups including Advanced Employee Networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities
• Proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by dedicated internal Armed Forces Network
• Opportunity to make a difference within communities through social outcomes

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

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Location: Birmingham, UK Recruiter contact: Nicola Coyle