Director of Planning

Job Title: Director Location: London Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading multidisciplinary consultancy in their search for a Director to join their London office. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced planning leader to join one of the UK's foremost planning and environmental consultancies. Working at a national level, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the planning business, leading major infrastructure and development projects while driving business growth, technical excellence, and industry innovation. This position offers the opportunity to influence nationally significant projects across sectors including energy, transport, water, housing, Net Zero, and infrastructure, whilst leading high-performing teams within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment. THE ROLEAs a Director, you will provide strategic leadership across the planning business, helping to shape its future direction while delivering major projects for a diverse client base. Working closely with senior leaders across planning, engineering, environment and design teams, you will drive business growth, strengthen client relationships, oversee technical excellence, and lead multidisciplinary teams on nationally significant projects. This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious Director looking to combine technical leadership with commercial responsibility within one of the UK's leading consultancies. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES* Providing strategic leadership across the UK planning business * Driving business development and securing major infrastructure and development projects * Leading key client accounts and nationally significant planning commissions * Developing and delivering business growth strategies across emerging markets including energy, transport, housing and Net Zero * Overseeing project delivery, commercial performance, governance and risk management * Working collaboratively with planning, environmental, engineering and design teams * Building and maintaining long-term client relationships and expanding market presence * Leading, mentoring and developing teams while supporting recruitment and succession planning * Promoting innovation, technical excellence and industry thought leadership WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR* RTPI accredited degree or postgraduate qualification in Town Planning * MRTPI qualified * Extensive consultancy experience at Associate Director, Director or equivalent level * Proven experience leading high-performing planning teams * Strong track record of winning and delivering major infrastructure and development projects * Excellent understanding of UK planning systems, planning policy and consenting regimes, including DCO experience where relevant * Strong commercial awareness with experience managing complex client relationships and project portfolios * Established professional network and recognised presence within the planning industry * Outstanding leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills WHAT'S ON OFFER* Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package * Hybrid and flexible working arrangements * Opportunity to lead nationally significant infrastructure and development projects * Strategic leadership role within a market-leading multidisciplinary consultancy * Clear opportunity to influence business growth and future direction * Excellent professional development and leadership opportunities * Collaborative and inclusive working environment with outstanding career prospects Interested? Contact Joel Bland on or email at