An experienced Planner with experience handling planning applications is needed to join our team at Planning Direct, a rapidly growing planning consultancy based in Ipswich, Suffolk, on a full-time basis.
We are looking for an experienced planner who can join the team and take responsibility for more complex planning cases. You would be expected to handle your own planning cases from start to finish.
Our current team includes junior and senior planners, architectural technicians, and landscape designers. We also partner with architectural firms and specialist service providers to offer our clients a comprehensive planning service.
This is an excellent opportunity to progress your planning career with a rapidly expanding company!
About Us
Planning Direct is a small planning consultancy based in Ipswich, Suffolk. We handle a wide range of small and large planning and listed building consent applications, appeals and objections. We work on behalf of business owners, charities, homeowners and public authorities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Research and appraisal of national and local planning policies, planning and design guidance, planning legislation and case law
- Liaison with architects and architectural technicians, to include the provision of both technical and design guidance on a range of planning drawings
- Timely production of detailed and good quality planning reports and statements, including planning statements, design & access statements, grounds of appeal statements and objection letters
- Effective case management to include online submission of planning applications and appeals and proactive, ongoing liaison with both clients and decision-makers, as well as interested parties where relevant
- Case tracking and document management. You will be solely responsible for maintaining and updating your case files, monitoring your applications and appeals and tracking all jobs on the shared work management system
- Identification, sourcing, commissioning and review of external surveys and reports, as required
- Provision of excellent customer service. You will be expected to take a proactive approach with your clients, to keep them involved in the process from start to finish, to explain technical matters and to provide your honest professional advice throughout
Required Experience:
- Experience handling planning applications, whether for the private or public sector
- Planning-based qualifications - including undergraduate and postgraduate planning degrees and MRTPI certification - can expect a higher starting salary
- Qualifications that have assisted you in developing your writing, reading comprehension and research skills
Required Skills:
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- Excellent writing and reading comprehension skills and a consistent and diligent approach to the production of written work
- Research-minded and a natural curiosity, i.e. if you don't already know an answer, you're keen to find it out
- A team player with the ability to both offer and accept constructive feedback
- A logical mind and an appetite for finding creative solutions to problems
- An existing understanding of planning policy, legislation and process
- A strong work ethic
- A desire to be the best and to support your colleagues to achieve the same
- A driving license and access to a car for site visits
Benefits:
- Flexible hours, including part-time and consideration of bespoke working hours requests
- Flexible working days starting between 8-10 am and finishing between 4-6 pm, your choice
- 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
- A generous pension scheme
- Working from home depends on your experience and ability to "hit the ground running." New employees typically work from the office for the first year, but this period may vary based on progress and independence
- A relaxed work and office environment, including a very relaxed dress code. We all work best when we're comfortable
- A state of the art office and the best work equipment. We will do everything in our power to accommodate disabilities and other individual needs
- Frequent pay reviews and pay rises
- Support with your professional development, including a financial contribution towards additional qualifications, certifications, training, etc
- A bonus scheme
Sounds interesting? Click the APPLY button to send your CV for immediate consideration.
Candidates with previous experience or job titles, including; Senior Planner, Planning Specialist, Project Planner, Planning Manager, Advanced Planning Analyst, Lead Planner, Junior Planner, Planning Officer and Principal Planner, may also be considered for this role.