Senior Associate

Main Purpose of the Job

• Responsible for delivering the objectives of the company positioning statement to provide clear realistic advice with a personalised service

• Dealing with the full range of planning work, working fully independently

• Developing and managing client relationships, responsible for business

  development activity and be achieving self-sufficiency in work generation and generating work for others consistently.

Main Responsibilities

Planning Work

• Preparing written fee proposals for clients following practice templates and guidelines

• Undertaking planning history and policy research independently and accurately

• Undertaking site visits and preparing written and visual records independently and accurately

• 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 size projects

• Coordinating a team of consultants on all size projects

• Speaking on behalf of clients at Planning Committee meetings

• Regular and clear communication with clients and team at all stages of projects

• Proactive management of client relationships both as part of specific projects and outside of this

• Undertaking all personal, project and financial administrative tasks in line with company requirements

• Preparing, maintaining, and implementing Personal Development Plan

Business Operations

• Line management responsibility for junior staff

• Developing junior staff in their professional and personal development through Annual Appraisals and Check-Ins

• Delegating to, and reviewing work of, junior staff

• Supporting and working collaboratively with staff across the business

• Initiating and proactively leading wider business operational improvement initiatives

  Business Development

• Handling new enquiries at an appropriate level with prompt responses and follow up to secure new instructions

• Achieving self-sufficiency in generating own planning work by building a network of contacts, actively developing client relationships, raising the personal profile, achieving recommendations and referrals

• Consistently generating work for others in the team

• Representing the company at networking events

• Initiating, leading and participating in company-wide business development projects

• Preparing, maintaining, and implementing Individual Business Development Plan

• Contributing to Partners’ Annual Strategy Meeting, as required

• Any other tasks commensurate with the post

Performance Measures

• Our clients have 9 Competencies to make up their Competency Framework, which supports their goals and represent the behaviours they expect to see their employees display at work:

  Knowledge & Understanding

• Expertise
• QualityandAccuracy
• Commercial Focus

• Impact

• Client Focus
• PlanningandOrganising
• Confidence

• Personal Effectiveness

• Working with others
• Motivation and drive
• Self-Awareness and Personal Development

• Qualifications

• Chartered Planner/RTPI Member

• Full driving license (exceptions can be considered)

Knowledge Required

• Excellent understanding and ability in the full range of planning work

• Excellent commercial understanding of development projects

• Excellent commercial understanding of planning consultancy business

Experience Required

• Range of varied and solid planning experience

• Private sector experience essential

Skills & Aptitudes Required

• Well organised and able to manage own and other’s time effectively to meet deadlines and budgets even under pressure

• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to produce own work and review the work of others to ensure high quality and an excellent level of accuracy

• Excellent communicator and encourages and enables others to communicate well

• Treats colleagues with dignity and respect contribute towards and encourage a

  supportive and collaborative workplace culture

• Good literacy, numeracy, IT and administrative skills

Personal Qualities Required

• Supportive and collaborative

• Self-aware, with a desire for continued personal development

• Self-motivated and driven to achieve

• Willingness to adapt to the business

• Ability to engage with and lead a team