Where you fit in!

This is an influential and highly visible role where you'll combine technical expertise, commercial awareness and stakeholder engagement to help guide development across the region.

As our Senior Planning Engineer, you will:

• Lead the technical assessment of complex planning applications promoting sustainable surface water drainage solutions, safeguarding existing YW infrastructure and work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to promote asset re-enforcement.
• Act as a subject matter expert on sewer network infrastructure and flood risk, resolving complex and escalated issues with confidence and credibility.
• Build trusted relationships with Local Planning Authorities, developers, consultants, and other key stakeholders, representing Yorkshire Water at a senior level.
• Influence planning outcomes by negotiating solutions that balance sustainable development, environmental protection and operational requirements.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and technical guidance to Development Technicians and colleagues, helping to develop capability and drive service excellence across the team.
• Support forecasting, performance reporting and delivery against key business targets, ensuring the team continues to provide an efficient and high-quality service.
• Champion continuous improvement by sharing expertise, promoting best practice and helping to enhance planning and development management processes across the business.

What skills and qualifications you will need:

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

You'll ideally have:

• A degree in a science or engineering discipline, ideally Civil Engineering, or equivalent industry experience.
• A strong understanding of sewerage networks, flood risk management and the challenges associated with supporting new development.
• Knowledge of planning legislation, including the Town and Country Planning Act, and its application within a development management, infrastructure or utility environment.
• An appreciation of the design, operation and management of water and wastewater networks and their interaction with future growth and development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly and confidently.
• Proven experience of building relationships, influencing stakeholders and negotiating successful outcomes with both internal and external partners.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring or developing colleagues, with a passion for sharing knowledge and building capability within a team.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and deliver high-quality work to challenging deadlines.
• A proactive, resilient and customer-focused approach, with a genuine commitment to delivering excellent service.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365 applications. Experience of Yorkshire Water systems such as ICE, Odyssey and Lotus Notes would be beneficial but is not essential.

Why join Yorkshire Water?

This is more than a planning role.

It's an opportunity to influence major developments across Yorkshire, protect critical infrastructure, shape sustainable growth and play a part in delivering one of the region's most important services.

You'll join a supportive team of experts, work on complex and varied projects, and have access to excellent development opportunities within a business that is investing heavily in its future.

We know that great people have commitments outside of work too, which is why we support flexible working arrangements wherever possible and encourage a healthy work-life balance.

Ready to apply?

If you're passionate about planning, infrastructure and making a lasting impact on the communities and environment we serve, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape the future of Yorkshire Water and Yorkshire's growth.

Closing date will be 21st October 2026.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.