DAC Planning
Chartered Planner (Flexible Level)
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Join Our Team at DAC Planning — Chartered Planner (Flexible Level)
Are you a passionate and talented chartered town planner looking for your next challenge? Do you want to work on interesting and high-profile projects that make a genuine difference to communities across the country? Whether you are at the beginning of your professional career or an experienced planner seeking your next challenge, we would like to hear from you.
DAC Planning is a professional planning consultancy dedicated to providing expert planning advice and support to local authorities, local communities, and public sector bodies nationally. We combine our deep experience in local government with our consultancy expertise — because we understand how planning works in practice.
We are proud holders of the RTPI Excellence in Digital Planning Award (2025) and the RTPI Small Planning Consultancy of the Year (East of England) Award (2023). We are a friendly, dedicated, and ambitious team, united by a shared passion for the plan-led planning system and the communities we serve.
We are now looking to appoint an experienced chartered planner to join us. Depending on your skills and experience, this role could be at Planner, Senior Planner, Principal Planner, even Associate level. We are seeking the right person rather than recruiting to a fixed level.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing consultancy at a pivotal time. You will work on a diverse range of projects for clients nationally, contributing to work that shapes communities and supports the delivery of sustainable development. Projects you could be involved in include:
- Local Plan production and examination support, including policy drafting, evidence base work, project management, and consultation
- Infrastructure planning and Infrastructure Delivery Plans
- Developer contributions, CIL, and S106 advice
- Training delivery through The Planning Academy, our dedicated training service
- Neighbourhood Plan support, from inception through to examination
- Research projects
- Development management support to local planning authorities in relation to high-profile schemes of strategic importance
- Planning appeals and expert witness support
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The role can be shaped around the strengths and experience of the successful candidate, and we welcome further expertise in our existing project areas and actively encourage candidates to pursue new projects aligned with their interests and skills.
About You
We are flexible on the level at which we appoint, and we are open to candidates across a range of experience levels. Above all, we are looking for someone who shares our values and our passion for the work we do. You will:
- Hold RTPI chartered status
- Have a proven track record of delivering high-quality planning work
- Be an excellent communicator with strong written and verbal skills
- Have good political and commercial acumen
- Be self-motivated, organized, and able to manage your own workload
- Be a collaborative team player with high personal standards
- Ideally have experience in planning policy and/or Local Plan work, though we welcome a range of planning backgrounds
Location
We are based in Colchester and welcome a hybrid working style, with a balance of regular time in the office and home working to support collaboration and work-life balance. Our main priority is creating the right team, and location is therefore open to discussion.
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What We Offer
In addition to a competitive salary (commensurate with experience) and pension contribution, DAC Planning offers:
- 25 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
- Health and wellness benefits including life insurance, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a virtual GP
- RTPI subscription fees paid
- Ongoing CPD opportunities including attendance at national conferences
- Clear progression path, with support to develop your role and responsibilities and to develop specialist expertise
- Flexible working arrangements including flexible hours, part-time, and full-time options
- Volunteering opportunities at Jordan's Farm, a local rewilding project
- A supportive and friendly working culture with regular team meetings and social activities
- The opportunity to contribute to the development and growth of the business
How to Apply
To apply, please click the 'Apply' button to submit your CV and covering letter. Your covering letter should set out your relevant skills and experience and explain why you are a great fit for DAC Planning.
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Vicki Willis or Nicki Faulkner on 01206 688103 or admin@dacplanning.com.
DAC Planning is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that all employees and job applicants receive equal treatment regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We believe that diversity and inclusion make us a stronger, more innovative organisation, and we actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
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