Associate Town Planner

Company: Penguin Recruitment
Apply for the Associate Town Planner
Location: Bristol
Job Description:

Overview

As an Associate Town Planner in Bristol, you will lead planning projects from idea to delivery within a collaborative, multidisciplinary property consultancy. You will develop client relationships, drive business growth, and mentor a junior team while ensuring high-quality planning advice and timely outcomes. This role offers clear progression toward senior leadership and a meaningful impact on clients and the business. You’ll join a supportive culture that values professional development and cross-team collaboration.

Pay / Benefits

  • Competitive salary and performance-related bonus
  • Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
  • 32 days’ annual leave plus wellbeing day and birthday
  • Private healthcare
  • Gym membership contribution (50%)
  • Life assurance

Responsibilities

  • Manage a varied portfolio of planning projects from inception through completion while meeting client requirements, deadlines and quality standards
  • Oversee day-to-day project delivery including planning, progress reviews, WIP, invoicing and debt management
  • Prepare project plans, fee agreements and professional planning reports with high QA standards
  • Provide commercially focused planning advice and maintain strong knowledge of planning policy and legislation
  • Build and maintain client relationships, acting as trusted contact throughout project delivery
  • Represent clients at public meetings and present planning proposals to stakeholders
  • Support business development and opportunities generation across the practice
  • Collaborate with Partners and colleagues to develop the wider planning team
  • Supervise and mentor junior team members, supporting CPD and professional development
  • Manage project resources effectively to meet client expectations and maintain service quality
  • Maintain professional knowledge through ongoing training and CPD

Key requirements

  • Chartered membership of the RTPI
  • Strong experience in town planning consultancy or similar professional environment
  • Excellent knowledge of the UK planning system, legislation and development management
  • Commercial mindset with interest in business development and work winning
  • Proven ability to build and develop client relationships
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and report writing skills
  • Experience managing projects, prioritising workloads and delivering to deadlines and budgets
  • Leadership or supervisory experience with mentoring responsibilities
  • Strong organisational and problem-solving skills; proactive and collaborative approach
  • Ambition to contribute to business growth and progress to senior leadership
  • collaborative mindset
  • strong communication
  • problem-solving
  • UK planning system knowledge
  • planning policy and legislation
  • professional report writing

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Posted: October 17th, 2026