Planner

Role Overview

We have an exciting new opportunity for a RTPI and/or RICS qualified Associate Director Planner to join the Central Planning Team based in our Reading and Oxford offices. The team’s reach is particularly diverse, with a strong pipeline of projects for a widevariety of clients, acting UK-wide - spanning developers, investors, major corporates / owner occupiers, land owning charities and education organisations.

This position of Associate Director Planner is an important role in the Central Planning Team - to help deliver, a wide range of exciting and high profile projects. The Central Planning Team across our Reading and Oxford offices consists of 22 planners andis a highly respected in the Thames Valley and is an integral part of the biggest planning consultancy in the UK with over 300 planning specialists covering every land use sector and geographical area in the UK. Savills planning division has secured the numberone position in Planning magazine’s Annual Consultancy Survey as the largest planning consultancy in the UK, for the 6th consecutive year.

Team Overview

Savills culture is one of trust and respect, teamwork and collaboration. Our teams and our clients benefit when we work together, listening to and learning from each other. Above all, we value the motivation of our people. This is evidenced by our wellbeingoffer, our capability to facilitate flexible working and our support to enjoy a healthy work life balance.

The team acts for clients mainly in the Thames Valley. Examples of current projects include urban extensions and new settlements such as the South Oxford Science Village, Oxford North and the Hall Farm / Loddon Valley Strategic Development Location, commercialand industrial schemes throughout the southeast of England, mixed use and urban regeneration projects in the urban areas of Reading and Oxford and housing schemes for landowners and PLC developers. We work for a wide variety of high profile clients, spanninglandowners, private individuals, institutions, developers, promoters, national and regional house builders, commercial/leisure operators and investors.
The Central Planning team works seamlessly with colleagues in Development, Commercial Investment, Office Agency, New Homes, Energy & Sustainability and Property Management.

This position of Associate Director is an important strategic, managerial role in the Central Planning Team and wider Savills Reading and Oxford Offices - to help win and deliver, a wide range of exciting and high profile projects. The Savills Central PlanningTeam, which is one of the largest in the Thames Valley and regarded by our clients as a market leader.

Key Responsibilities of the Role
- Contribute to the setting of strategy, and team management (operational and financial).
- Contribute to the management of professional teams on projects, and co-ordination of their inputs
- Take responsibility for projects from the earliest stages through to completion.
- Proven ability to win new business and undertake client relationship management.
- Liaise and cultivate good relationships with clients and fellow professionals.
- Build relationships with other divisions with a view to create joint business development opportunities
- Prepare/make presentations at meetings.
- Draw up, present and negotiate competitive proposals.
- Develop creative and original solutions to satisfy all parties.
- Undertake research and analysis.
- Prepare planning appraisals of land, buildings and concepts.
- Prepare and promote land through the Local Plan process including at Examination in Public.
- Contribute to the preparation/editing of Design & Access Statements, sustainability statements, and other planning supporting documents.
- Liaise and negotiate with planning officers, employees of consultee organisations, third parties.
- Write complex reports, interpreting data and making clear and relevant recommendations.
- Ensure compliance with planning regulations.
- Planning appeals
- Communicate and negotiate effectively with clients and colleagues.
- Maintain an awareness of market conditions and the impact of government policies.
- Keep informed about documents relating to planning policy and practice.
- Attends external events to create local contacts and identify business opportunities.

In addition to the tasks described above, the job holder may be required to carry out other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience
- Commercial and entrepreneurial.
- Detail conscious, accurate.
- Thrives under pressure, can work to tight deadlines.
- Team player.
- A positive attitude.
- Strives to deliver an exceptional level of service to clients at all times.
- Excellent written and communication skills.
- Presentable, and with good presentation skills.
- MRTPI.
- Detailed knowledge of the British Town Planning system.
- Good experience in leading and managing projects. Providing evidence at appeal and Examination in Public.