DCO Senior, Principal or Associate Planner

Overview

In this role, you lead planning and consenting workstreams for major infrastructure projects, shaping deliverable programmes and applications. You’ll work with clients and multidisciplinary teams to manage schedules, assess risks, and drive quality outcomes in a collaborative environment. The position sits within Stantec’s Major Infrastructure/DCO team, offering exposure to DCO, TCPA and DNS regimes across a growing UK pipeline. You’ll mentor colleagues and support continuous improvement while contributing to a sustainable, long-term infrastructure agenda.

Pay / Benefits

• Competitive salary
• bonus schemes
• enhanced pension plan
• annual leave buy/sell
• private medical insurance
• group income protection & life assurance

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate planning and consenting workstreams for major infrastructure projects (NSIPs under Planning Act 2008)
• Provide planning and EIA strategy advice and manage processes across consenting regimes (DCO, TCPA, DNS)
• Progress projects through scheme development, advising on methodologies and carrying out assessments
• Collaborate with clients, stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams to shape clear, deliverable programmes and applications
• Bring structure to complex projects by spotting risks early, maintaining momentum and delivering quality outcomes
• Support and mentor colleagues to foster a collaborative team culture and growth

Key requirements

• Experience delivering planning and consenting for major infrastructure or readiness to step into a lead role
• Strong technical understanding of DCO and relevant consenting regimes
• Professional/academic qualification in Planning or Environment (or relevant background)
• Credibility with clients and stakeholders with confident communication and a practical, solutions-focused mindset
• Professional accreditation or working towards such as MRTPI, APM, CMI, CEnv or CEng

• confident communication
• solutions-focused mindset
• collaborative/team-oriented
• Development Consent Orders (DCO)
• TCPA
• DNS

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