Scottish Water
Specialist Team Manager L- Town Planning
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Specialist Team Manager L- Town Planning
Team Manager, Planning - Scottish Water
Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland.
Most people don’t think too much about how clean water reaches their tap, but Scottish Water does. In fact, it’s all we think about.
As Team Manager for our Planning team, you’re at the forefront of our mission. You’ll lead a specialist planning function that supports the successful development and delivery of projects across Scottish Water’s Capital Investment programme.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape how we navigate Scotland’s statutory planning system, provide expert advice across a diverse portfolio of projects, and help deliver the infrastructure and services that communities across Scotland rely on every day.
About the Role
You’ll lead and develop a team of town planning professionals, ensuring high-quality planning advice is embedded from the earliest stages of project development through to delivery. Working across projects ranging from smaller local schemes to complex major developments, you’ll provide leadership, assurance, and direction on:
- Planning strategy
- Consenting routes
- Stakeholder engagement
You’ll work closely with internal teams, delivery partners, regulators, and planning authorities to help secure robust, timely, and practical outcomes that support Scottish Water’s investment ambitions.
What You’ll Do
The role involves:
- Leading, managing, and supporting a team of planning professionals, fostering a high-performing and collaborative environment.
- Providing expert planning advice across a broad range of projects including:
- Permitted development
- Renewable energy
- Small-scale developments
- Major infrastructure schemes
- Undertaking horizon-scanning to identify changes in planning legislation and policy, helping to shape strategy, inform risk management, and guide consenting approaches.
- Building and maintaining strong working relationships with:
- Internal colleagues
- Specialist teams
- Stakeholders
- Local authorities
- Regulators
- Delivery partners
- Supporting the timely progression of projects by ensuring that:
- Planning risks, dependencies, and opportunities are clearly understood and effectively managed
- Consistency, quality, and continuous improvement are driven in planning processes, standards, and ways of working across the team.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What You’ll Bring
To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:
Essential Criteria
- Strong leadership capability
- Technical planning expertise
- Confidence to manage a varied and complex project portfolio
- An established network across the planning landscape
- A proven track record of developing and supporting others
Specific qualifications and experience:
- Degree in Town Planning
- Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI)
- Proven experience managing a team of town planners
- A robust knowledge of Scotland’s planning legislation and practical application
- Experience securing consent across a range of development types
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to influence and build credibility across a diverse range of partners
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working in a developer setting
- Knowledge of the water and wastewater sector
- Ability to deliver in line with investment and project requirements
- A proven track record of successfully presenting to planning committees
Why Scottish Water?
At Scottish Water, we’re committed to delivering:
- Great service for our customers
- Environment protection
- Investing in Scotland’s futures
In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Lead a valued specialist team
- Influence a diverse and meaningful programme of work
- Help shape sustainable infrastructure outcomes across the country
If you’re ready to bring your planning expertise and leadership skills to a role with real impact, we’d love to hear from you.
Looking Out for You
While the work we do is important, we know it’s not the only thing that matters. That’s why we ensure you have a good work-life balance:
Support and Benefits
- 38 days of holiday every year (including public holidays), with an option to buy up to 5 more days.
- Paid time off to volunteer in your community.
- Family-friendly policies including adoption, maternity, and parental leave entitlements.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Flexibility and Wellbeing
- We embrace flexible working arrangements.
- A pension scheme that guarantees you’ll know what you’ll receive at retirement.
Considerate Extras
- Annual company bonus.
- Access to SW Splash, rewards that save you money on holidays, bills, and shopping.
Job Grade and Salary
This role will be Grade 8. Starting salary for new hires: £54,776. Performance-driven pay progression allows movement up to a maximum salary of £74,386.
Application Details
Applicants are welcome until midnight on 14th July 2026.
Work Arrangement
Balanced Hybrid working is encouraged. You’ll work half your time in a Scottish Water location.
Before You Accept a Job Offer
Job offers are conditional based on successful completion of:
- Reference checks
- Criminal record checks
- License verification (if applicable)
Remote screening will begin post-offer acceptance; you don’t need to worry before that point.
Let’s Break Down Barriers to Apply!
We acknowledge that research shows some people avoid applying for jobs if they don’t meet every listed criterion. If you’re interested but don’t tick every box? Apply anyway!
Everyone has a learning curve, and we rarely hire candidates who can perform every aspect from day one.
If you have any concerns or are eligible for adjustments (such as due to disability, neurodiversity, or menopause), let us know — we’re happy to accommodate.
Scotland Residency Requirement
As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, our employees must be:
- Scottish taxpayers. If new to Scotland, you must commit to moving within your first three months.
Health and Safety Commitment
We take the safety, health, and wellbeing of our employees, colleagues, and customers seriously—drug and alcohol testing may be a requirement.
Final Reminder
Applications submitted outside of 12 months are automatically removed from the recruitment database without further action.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact SWRecruitment@ScottishWater.co.uk.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location