Senior Associate

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Job Title: Senior Associate

Location

Job Description

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering the full range of planning work in line with our company positioning statement; to provide clear realistic advice with a personalised service. Working independently, you will be proficient in developing and managing client relationships and will be responsible for business development, achieving self-sufficiency in work generation plus generating work for others.

Qualifications

• Chartered Planner/RTPI Member

Previous Experience

• With a range of varied and solid planning experience, you will have an excellent understanding and ability in the full range of planning work.
• Private sector experience is essential. You will have a strong commercial understanding of both development projects and planning consultancy business.
• Previous experience in the line management of other planning consultants is preferred.

Skills and Aptitudes

• Ability to engage with and effectively lead a team.
• Well organised with the ability to manage your own time as well as others to meet deadlines and budgets, even under pressure.
• Acute attention to detail to ensure a high quality output and an excellent level of accuracy.
• Self-motivated, confident and driven individual with a desire for continued personal development.
• Ability to flexibly and willingly adapt with the business.
• Able and committed to building strong client relationships and providing a great service.
• Excellent communicator with clients, colleagues and other consultants.
• Contributes towards a supportive and collaborative workplace culture.
• Good IT and administrative skills.

Main Responsibilities

Planning Work

• Preparing written fee proposals for clients.
• Undertaking planning history and policy research.
• Undertaking site visits and preparing written and visual records.
• Preparing written site appraisals for clients to provide a clear record of findings and advice.
• Providing written and verbal planning advice to clients to provide clear recommendations.
• Preparing, submitting, and proactively managing pre-application advice requests and applications including planning, enforcement, listed building consent, certificate of lawfulness and prior approvals.
• Preparing planning, design & access, heritage, and other related statements for submission.
• Preparing written local plan representations for site promotion and representations at examinations.
• Submitting and managing appeals by written representations, hearings and inquiries including preparation of appeal statements and representation at site visits, hearings and inquiries as an expert witness.
• Dealing directly with clients for all sized projects.
• Coordinating a team of consultants on all sized projects.
• Speaking on behalf of clients at Planning Committee meetings.
• Regular and clear communication with clients and team at all stages of projects.

Business Development

• Proactive management of client relationships both as part of specific projects and in terms of business development.
• Achieving self-sufficiency in generating your own planning work, building your own network of contacts and actively raising both your personal and company profile to achieve recommendations and referrals.
• Generating work for others in the team.
• Representing the company at networking events.
• Initiating, leading and participating in company-wide business development projects and operational improvement initiatives.
• Contributing to the Partner’s Annual Strategy Meeting.
• Preparing, maintaining and implementing a Personal Development Plan.
• Supporting and working collaboratively with staff across all offices.
• Undertaking all personal, project and financial administrative tasks in line with company requirements.

Line Management

• Developing junior staff in their professional and personal development through Annual Appraisals and check-ins.
• Delegating to, and reviewing work of junior members of staff.