Aecom
Trusted global infrastructure consulting firm delivering engineering, design, construction management services.
Associate Director, Planning Policy
Lead planning policy projects, manage teams, clients, and drive business growth.
Job Highlights
About the Role
The Associate Director will lead the town planning team, providing line management and mentorship while ensuring effective collaboration across multi‑disciplinary groups. Responsibilities include delivering key planning policy projects—such as local plan strategy, evidence studies, and infrastructure strategies—and offering strategic advice to clients and internal teams. The role also encompasses project governance, budget and schedule control, quality assurance, health and safety compliance, and a significant contribution to business development through client relationship nurturing and tender preparation. • Lead and develop the town planning team, providing line management and mentorship. • Deliver key planning policy projects, including local plan strategies, evidence studies, and infrastructure strategies. • Provide strategic planning advice to clients and internal teams while building stakeholder relationships. • Manage multi‑disciplinary project teams to ensure delivery on budget and schedule. • Oversee quality assurance, health and safety compliance, and deliverable standards. • Contribute to business development by nurturing client relationships and preparing commercial tenders. • Maintain strong client‑facing and interpersonal skills with existing local authority connections. • Produce high‑quality technical reports and communicate findings effectively.
Key Responsibilities
- ▸team leadership
- ▸policy delivery
- ▸project management
- ▸quality assurance
- ▸report production
- ▸business development
What You Bring
Following a surge in planning policy project wins, AECOM is hiring an Associate Director to join the leadership team and manage the growing workload. The role seeks a strategic thinker with strong interpersonal skills, proven experience in planning policy, strategy, and project management. It can be based in any of several UK offices, with full hybrid‑working support and options for full‑time or part‑time arrangements. Candidates must have significant experience leading and contributing to planning policy and strategy in a consultancy or public‑sector setting, along with existing relationships with clients and local authorities. Strong client‑focus, collaborative working style, and a business‑development mindset are essential, as is a track record of winning work and building new relationships. The role requires the ability to produce high‑quality technical reports, communicate clearly, work under pressure, and maintain a high commitment to quality. A degree in Town Planning (or related) and membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent) are required. • Demonstrate extensive experience in planning policy and strategy within consultancy or public sector. • Hold a degree in Town Planning (or related) and RTPI membership (or equivalent).
Requirements
- ▸town planning
- ▸rtpi
- ▸policy strategy
- ▸project management
- ▸client focus
- ▸business development
Benefits
AECOM offers a supportive environment for career progression, with active learning and development programmes and flexible hybrid working arrangements. Employees benefit from a comprehensive suite of compensation, wellbeing, and family‑friendly programs, as well as a culture that celebrates diversity, including neurodiversity. The company is a Disability Confident Employer and provides reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. Inclusive policies, equity initiatives, and a strong commitment to ESG priorities underpin the workplace experience.
Work Environment
Hybrid