Job Title

My client is a well-established, multi-disciplinary property and design group. It brings together specialists in architecture, engineering, interior design, surveying and land sourcing under one roof, so clients get joined-up support from the first site appraisal through to completion.

Planning is central to almost everything the group delivers. It now wants to appoint a Head of Planning to lead planning across all in-house projects. Working directly with the Managing Director, you'll also help build a planning consultancy service for external clients.

This is a rare chance to own the planning function from day one. You'll shape how it works, build its reputation and grow it into a standalone revenue-generating service.

The Role

• Act as the in-house planning lead across a varied portfolio, including residential, barn conversions, listed buildings and heritage, commercial, mixed-use and masterplanning.
• Give strategic planning advice from early feasibility and land appraisal through to submission, determination and discharge of conditions.
• Prepare and manage planning applications, appeals, pre-application submissions and supporting statements.
• Work closely with in-house architects, engineers and designers so planning strategy shapes design from the start.
• Build strong relationships with local planning authorities, statutory consultees and other stakeholders across Kent and the South East.
• Work with the MD to set up the external planning consultancy, including the service offering, fee structures, positioning and growth plans.
• Lead business development and work winning, including identifying opportunities, writing fee proposals and bids, and turning leads into instructions.
• Develop and look after a client base of landowners, developers, self-builders, promoters and commercial clients.
• Represent the business at networking events and industry forums, and through referral partners.
• As the service grows, build and lead a planning team.