Associate Director Director of Town Planning

Job Title: Associate Director Director of Town Planning

Location: Leeds

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading planning consultancy with the appointment of an experienced planning professional at Associate Director or Director level to lead and grow their presence in Leeds.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established planning professional with strong technical, commercial and business development experience to take ownership of a regional presence, develop new client relationships, win new instructions and play a key role in shaping the future growth of the business across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region.

The successful candidate will be based from a shared office space in Leeds, working with a high degree of autonomy while remaining closely connected to the wider planning team. You will have access to junior resource, shared expertise and support from colleagues across the business, with regular travel to the company's Kent and London offices.

This role would particularly suit an ambitious Associate Director or Director who is motivated by building something, rather than stepping into an established regional team, and who is confident acting as the local face of a consultancy.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and represent the consultancy across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region.
• Act as the local senior point of contact for clients, consultants, developers and other stakeholders.
• Provide high-quality strategic planning advice and oversee the delivery of planning projects.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Identify, pursue and secure new business opportunities and planning instructions.
• Attend networking events, industry meetings and client meetings to raise the profile of the business.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities and other key stakeholders across the region.
• Help establish and develop the Leeds office and regional presence.
• Over time, support the recruitment and development of additional planning professionals as the team grows.
• Work autonomously while collaborating closely with the wider planning team and drawing on resources and expertise across the business.
• Contribute to the strategic direction and growth of the business across Yorkshire.
• Support the company's profile through networking, speaking opportunities, industry events, articles and involvement with relevant professional bodies.
• Travel periodically to Kent and London to maintain strong relationships with the wider business and attend meetings and events.

About you

Essential:

• Significant experience within a private planning consultancy.
• Proven experience operating at Associate Director, Director or equivalent senior level.
• Strong knowledge of the Leeds and wider Yorkshire planning market.
• Established relationships with clients, developers, consultants and local authorities across the region.
• A proven track record of winning new business and developing client relationships.
• Commercially minded with the ability to identify and convert new opportunities.
• Confident representing a consultancy independently at senior client meetings, networking events and industry gatherings.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Comfortable working autonomously while remaining connected to a wider team.
• Able to commute to Leeds regularly and willing to travel to Kent and London periodically.

Desirable:

• Chartered membership of the RTPI.
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing planning professionals.
• Experience of building or growing a regional planning team.
• Experience working within or alongside a local authority.
• Strong existing profile within the Leeds/Yorkshire planning market.

What's on offer

• Associate Director or Director-level opportunity.
• Competitive salary and benefits package tailored to experience.
• The opportunity to lead and shape a growing regional presence.
• Significant autonomy and responsibility from day one.
• Direct involvement in business development and the growth of the Leeds operation.
• Opportunity to build and develop a team over time.
• Access to an established wider planning team, expertise and resources.
• Excellent long-term career progression and potential to play a key role in the wider growth strategy.
• A varied and commercially focused workload across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region.

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