Senior Planner Norwich based

Lanpro is a market leading multi-disciplinary consultancy who specialise in Planning, Design and the Environment.

The company works on projects at all scales within town, semi-rural and rural contexts, across a variety of sectors that includes residential, historic sites and estates, renewable energy, and mixed-use commercial developments.

As part of our growth and forever evolving proposition we are looking for an Associate Director level to join their highly efficient and growing Planning team. Applicants for this role will work on projects throughout the UK but with the core workload currently coming in from Cambridge and the Eastern region, it would be ideal if you were suitably located in Norwich.

Job Purpose

As a Senior Planner you will have the responsibility of being the key point of contact for clients, delivering planning advice on planning application and projects. You will continue to develop core competencies, and technical expertise.
Key Responsibilities

Developing ourselves and others

• Specialists able to advise on their own area of expertise with experience or seniority, but may have limited exposure to management responsibility which they may now be developing.
• Developing and refining commercial management, client relationship and business development skills as evidenced through good quality outcomes.
• Actively contributes to technical excellence in the team and will supervise, assist and/or mentor team members as required with regards to both technical and professional development and is active in maintaining and developing own technical expertise (CPD)
• Reviews work of other professional staff and may direct a small team and/or a unique element of a project.

Collaboration and innovation

• Has an internal network of colleagues who they collaborate effectively with to ensure the most successful outcome for the project/client.
• Skilled knowledge in their technical or professional area and applies this knowledge to ensure the best outcome for the client.
• Builds and consolidates networks within the industry to enhance understanding and knowledge of expertise.
• Is an ambassador for ensuring great client experience, whether internal or external.

Defining our future

• Makes a positive contribution towards bids and project proposals, having knowledge of our markets and making suggestions for new areas of work.
• Undertakes work requiring the application of principles in a wide range of contexts and can demonstrate creativity in applying solutions.
• Looks to achieve continuous improvement across the services we provide to our clients through innovative approaches to ways of working, solutions, and outcomes.

Defining our projects

• Responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources.
• Accountable for own budgetary, quality, safety and timeframe targets for projects and will identify and agree any additional work with the Project Manager or client, as appropriate.
• Awareness and compliance of Health and Safety procedures to ensure projects are compliant with these.
• Establishes own milestones, deadlines and team objectives and delegates responsibility to ensure projects are completed in a timely and cost-effective way.
• Liaises with contractors / suppliers and other third parties involved in projects to ensure both the clients and Lanpro s interests area safeguarded.
• May direct and monitor technical aspect of specific segment of major project or overseeing of smaller projects.
• Preparing and submitting planning applications, appeals, and pre-application enquiries
• Conducting research and undertaking comprehensive planning appraisals to establish the development potential of sites.
• Writing high quality reports with clear recommendations.
• Provision of guidance to engineers/architects on the production of drawings and supplemental planning information in relation to planning submissions
• Preparation of fee proposals to generate new business.
• Review of Local Planning Authority (LPA) Local Plans and their stage of production.
• Managing community engagement, committee meetings and public examinations.
• Communicating with all stakeholders involved in the planning process and negotiating positive outcomes for the client.

Qualifications & Experience

• An RTPI accredited degree or Masters in a related discipline
• Preferably a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or be working towards it.
• Ideally at least two years post qualification experience in a relevant role.
• Have spent at least two years working in the planning industry, in either the public or private sectors.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Strong client liaison skills.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Project management skills.
• Strong report writing skills and experience of delivering recommendations.
• Strong understanding of the UK planning process.