Senior Planner

Job Description

We have an exciting new opportunity for a RTPI and/or RICS qualified Senior Planner (or someone who is eligible to be submitting to one or both Institutes within six months of starting work) to join the Cambridge Planning Team. The successful candidate wouldbe working alongside a team of eleven other planners providing planning advice to a wide range of clients in the East of England. The teams reach is particularly diverse, with a strong pipeline of projects for a wide variety of clients, spanning landowners,developers, investors, major corporates / owner occupiers, land owning charities, health trusts and Cambridge Colleges.This position of Senior Planner is an important role in the Cambridge Planning Teamto help deliver, a wide range of exciting and high profile projects. The Savills Cambridge Planning Team is an integral part of the biggest planning consultancy in theUK with some 240 planning specialists covering every land use sector and geographical area in the UK.The Cambridge Planning team is one of the largest planning consultancies in the East of England and works closely with colleagues in Development, Commercial Investment, Rural, New Homes, Energy & Sustainability and Property Management teams in a large modernmulti-disciplinary office within Cambridge.This role is targeted at candidates with an interest in broadening their experience of planning and being closely involved with interesting projects and clients. Key requirements are:

• an enjoyment of writing, with excellent language skills and an ability to construct logical planning strategies
• a proven ability to multi-task, across many projects, helping to steer the teams workload, managing projects capablyand reporting to senior staff within the team; and
• a willingness and enthusiasm for mentoring and guiding junior planning and graduate level colleagues.

Typically, your role will involve managing your own workload, assisting the senior team fee earners, undertaking planning research and enquiries, drafting and finessing reports and planning submissions (site assessments, policy notes, applications, appeals,development plan representations and so on). Assisting with the management of the teams caseload and its business development activities.Key Responsibilities

• Prepare planning appraisals of land, buildings and concepts.
• Undertake research and analysis.
• Prepare planning applications, including planning statements.
• Write reports, interpreting data and making clear and relevant recommendations.
• Contribute to the preparation/editing of Design & Access Statements and other planning supporting documents.
• Liaise and negotiate with planning officers, employees of consultee organisations, third parties.
• Liaise and cultivate good relationships with clients and fellow professionals.
• Develop creative and original solutions to satisfy all parties.
• Ensure compliance with planning regulations.
• Communicate and negotiate effectively with clients and colleagues.
• Take responsibility for projects from the earliest stages through to completion.
• Maintain an awareness of market conditions and the impact of government policies.
• Keep informed about documents relating to planning policy and practice.
• Build relationships with other divisions within Savills.
• Attend 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.The ideal candidate will have the potential to:

• Deal with instructions and clients alone, after an introductory period (and with support);
• Identify new business opportunities (again, with support).

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• MRTPI or MRICS (with relevant planning experience) or be eligible for membership in terms of submitting an application within 6 months of starting at Savills
• Detailed knowledge of the UK town planning and governmental systems
• Strong verbal, numerical and report writing skills
• Excellent organisational skillsprioritising and working to deadlines.
• A can do, hands-on team player.
• Good interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Type of Assessment for this role:

• Interview