Our client is one of the UK's leading employee-owned planning-led practices, providing tailored multidisciplinary advice to our clients across the development sector. Joining them brings the opportunity to gain valuable experience working alongside skilled professionals who will provide you with essential guidance and support to grow your career as a professional planner.

You will have the ability to work for a wide variety of clients and projects across both the private and public sectors and alongside colleagues in the wider Group's core business sectors which include:

• Planning Research & Analysis • Masterplanning & Urban Design • Architecture • Transport & Infrastructure • Sustainability Engineering • Environmental Services

The range of benefits that we offer to our employees includes private healthcare with BUPA, life insurance, company pension with a salary sacrifice option, cycle to work scheme, contributions towards professional subscriptions and an enhanced maternity scheme.

They are seeking a suitably qualified and experienced Town Planner to play a key role in our planning team at either our Bedford or Rugby offices. You will have a minimum of 8-10 years of professional experience with a significant element of this being gained in the private sector. It is essential that you hold Chartered membership of the RTPI and is desirable that you attained your post-graduate qualification in Planning or related disciplines. You should demonstrate significant post-Chartership professional experience.

As an Associate Director you will be supported to work semi-autonomously, under the supervision of Directors. You will lead on projects and engage in a range of development plan / policy and development management work. This will include, but is not limited to, managing planning applications of all scales, local plan representations, site promotion, appeals, EiP and public inquiry work. It is expected that you will be directly involved in maintaining and growing the established profile of our Bedford and Rugby offices with an existing and potential client base primarily focused within the East of England, East Midlands. Within this remit you will have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing delivery and expansion of a nationwide portfolio of projects across different sectors including residential, specialist housing for older people and commercial development. You will possess a good knowledge of the planning system and have experienced of a wide range of planning issues. This role includes a high degree of client interface requiring excellent interpersonal communication and relationship management skills