Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancy firms offering unparalleled opportunities for talented individuals in search of a rewarding career.
We need an experienced Chartered Planner combining a strong track record in planning with experience in providing advice to our growing markets in the development, transportation, energy and water sectors. You will join our progressive national planning team to help us deliver an expanding workload for a wide range of clients in the public and private sectors.
Our UK Planning and Environment team is based in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Warrington, Leeds and Glasgow. We work directly with Atkins’ multi-disciplinary teams and businesses in the UK and across the world on a variety of major infrastructure and development projects. Our team is one of the UK’s leading planning consultancies, at the forefront of thought-leadership in planning and delivery of infrastructure and development and the use of digital data to support our work. We provide strategic planning advice in the UK to central government and its agencies, local enterprise partnerships, local authorities, combined authorities and the private sector. We work on a wide range of interesting projects, our clients include EDF, Environment Agency, Greater London Authority, Highways England, Homes England, High Speed 2, Ministry of Defence, MHCLG, Network Rail, Transport for London, Transport for the North, West of England Combined Authority and many others such as LEPs, local authorities, utility companies and private developers. We also work with colleagues leading international development work for funding institutions and government bodies.
The successful candidate will work within a dynamic multi-disciplinary environment with colleagues in environmental, engineering and design disciplines across the wider Atkins UK and international teams. We are looking for someone with a real passion for planning and the skills to deliver transformative and high-quality infrastructure and communities.
We recognise the importance and benefits of helping our employees balance work and home life and Atkins offers flexible working arrangements. We are ideally looking for the successful candidate to be based in London or the south east of England, however we operate flexibly across the UK so you could be based in any of our hub office locations. There may be opportunities to work out of other UK offices or client offices, where the need arises, to meet the demands of fluctuating workloads. We provide a very flexible working environment with opportunities to work from home and from our regional offices and to hours which suit you.
Responsibilities
- Lead on the preparation of planning applications for development proposals under a variety of consent regimes including Town and Country Planning Act, Transport and Works Act Orders or Planning Act 2008 (DCOs);
- Draft relevant supporting documentation;
- Lead on the negotiation of planning submissions through the consents process;
- Support the preparation of strategy and policy documents, evidence-based studies and associated advice;
- Provide planning advice to external and internal clients;
- Input into, or co-ordination of, Environmental Impact Assessments or other planning related deliverables;
- Manage or support responses to tender opportunities and fee proposals;
- Work with senior colleagues to identify, develop and pursue new business and marketing opportunities across a range of sectors;
- Support resource and workload allocation in liaison with the project and team managers;
- Management, mentoring and support for more junior colleagues.
Requirements
- A relevant planning degree and full RTPI membership (or related / equivalent qualifications / professional membership);
- Working in consultancy, a local authority planning team or similar relevant experience is required;
- Sound in-depth knowledge of planning law and procedures, including recent and proposed changes to the planning system at national, regional and local levels;
- Working knowledge or experience of the UK’s infrastructure and development consenting processes;
- Experience in the management and delivery of multi-disciplinary planning projects;
- Experience of working alongside and co-ordinating a range of technical specialists providing input into planning submissions and EIAs;
- Good report writing, verbal and presentation skills, and the aptitude to rationally explain, explore and discuss planning issues;
- Excellent time management skills - able to prioritise and work effectively under pressure, with proven success in meeting tight deadlines;
- Commercial awareness and business development skills would be advantageous.
You as an Individual
- This is an exciting opportunity for the successful applicant to utilise and develop their planning knowledge by working within a busy and expanding Planning team responding to a wide range of opportunities. You must be self-motivated, enthusiastic, determined, resilient and be able to demonstrate that you can:
- Work under pressure, with excellent time management and success in meeting tight deadlines;
- Manage and work on multiple assignments delivering outputs on time and within budget;
- Work well as part of multi-disciplinary teams with the confidence to input effectively as an individual across a range of projects, consenting and strategic planning, and a range of geographies;
- Prepare accurate and well-presented reports and presentations to a high standard;
- Demonstrate strong verbal communication skills and the aptitude to rationally explain, explore and discuss planning issues;
- Flexibly apply knowledge and experience to a wide variety of planning related tasks.
What we offer
Atkins recognise that there are many well qualified people who are looking to further their career, but who cannot commit to conventional full time employment. We support flexible working arrangements and are interested to discuss how we can accommodate individual requirements. As part of this commitment, we understand the need for a diverse and flexible workforce, where a work-life balance is important. So, by default Atkins offers flexible working, where there is no fixed 9 ‘till 5, no need for a 5-day week, and no requirement to spend all your working time in the office.
Training
Atkins develops individuals through a portfolio of training and development activities designed to help you perform to the best of your abilities and talents. These are reviewed with individuals through an annual appraisal process. We actively support staff in achieving Chartership via relevant institutions.
Rewards and Benefits
Please refer to our website for details of our full benefits package .
https://yourrewarduk.snclavalin.com/
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview.
If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
Atkins recognise that there are many well qualified people who are looking to further their career, but who cannot commit to full time employment. We support flexible working arrangements and are interested to discuss how we can accommodate individual requirements.
ATKINS, part of the SNC Lavalin Group, is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
