Senior Planner

Senior Planner
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Penguin Recruitment is pleased to be supporting a well established, multidisciplinary consultancy in their search for a Senior Planner to join their growing planning team in Newcastle.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planner to take a leading role within a busy and expanding team, working on complex and high-profile projects across a wide range of sectors.

As a Senior Planner, you will take ownership of major planning projects, acting as the main point of contact for clients and stakeholders and guiding schemes from early strategy through to consent.

Projects include residential, environmental, industrial, commercial, marine, renewables, and major infrastructure developments, as well as permitting, stakeholder engagement, and planning secondment support. While based in Newcastle, the team delivers projects across England, Scotland, and Wales, alongside a strong local client base.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading planning strategy and delivery on complex planning schemes

• Managing and coordinating planning and consenting submissions

• Acting as the senior planning contact for clients and key stakeholders

• Leading consultation with local planning authorities, statutory consultees, and communities

• Managing project programmes, budgets, and quality standards

• Mentoring and supporting junior planners within the team

• Working collaboratively with engineering, transport, environmental, and design teams

The ideal Senior Planner will have:

• A strong track record of leading complex planning applications from pre-application through to determination

• Proven experience managing client relationships

• Experience mentoring or leading junior staff or project teams

• A degree in Town Planning or a related discipline

• MRTPI Chartered status (or working at Chartered level)

• A strong understanding of planning policy, development management, and the wider regulatory environment

• Confident written and verbal communication skills

Desirable:

• Experience or exposure to EIA projects

• Commercial awareness and experience managing budgets or programmes

• A senior role with genuine responsibility and autonomy

• A diverse and high-profile project portfolio

• Flexible and hybrid working

• Enhanced annual leave, pension, private healthcare, and professional subscriptions

• Structured CPD and a collaborative, quality-driven culture

For more information or to apply for this Senior Planner position in Newcastle, please contact Joel Bland at Penguin Recruitment.