Town Planner to Senior Planner
Meet Our Recruiter
About the Role
A respected and well-established planning consultancy based in South Manchester is seeking to appoint a Planner or Senior Planner, with potential flexibility to consider a strong Associate-level candidate.
This boutique consultancy has carved out a strong niche in the residential planning and strategic land sector, with an impressive portfolio of large-scale developments across the North West and further afield. They work with a range of major national housebuilders and are recognised for delivering commercially astute and technically robust planning strategies.
The company offers the ideal balance of a tight-knit, collaborative team with the opportunity to work on high-impact, complex projects. With a healthy pipeline of new instructions, the team is well-positioned for growth.
The Role
This role provides an exciting opportunity for a driven and capable planning professional to take ownership of meaningful projects and grow within a progressive environment.
The successful candidate will:
- Support large, strategic residential and EIA-led projects
- Manage and deliver smaller planning applications independently
- Provide support and mentoring to junior colleagues
- Build trusted client relationships and engage confidently in networking opportunities
While there is no immediate expectation for business development, this role suits someone who enjoys being outward-facing and takes pride in representing their company professionally.
The Ideal Candidate
We're looking for someone who brings:
- Solid experience in planning within a consultancy role
- Strong understanding of planning policy, development processes, and residential planning
- Excellent project management and interpersonal skills
- MRTPI status or progression towards it
- A collaborative mindset and a proactive attitude
The Team
- You'll be joining a small yet well-balanced team ranging from Graduate to Director level, where the culture is professional yet relaxed, with a strong emphasis on teamwork, mentoring, and long-term career development.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
- Location: Based in South Manchester town, known for its excellent transport links, vibrant town centre, and quality of life.
- Work Model: Currently 5 days/week in-office, but flexibility is available where needed.
- Bonus: Discretionary annual bonus awarded at Christmas, based on both individual and company performance.
- Growth Prospects: Clear opportunity to develop within a growing, well-regarded consultancy delivering some of the region's most interesting planning work.
When applying to any role through Cobalt, your CV will never be shared with a client without your prior consent. Apply in confidence below or get in touch with me for a confidential discussion about the position via sshaw@cobaltrecruitment.com
