Aecom
Trusted global infrastructure consulting firm delivering engineering, design, construction management services.
Associate Director, Planning Policy
Lead planning policy projects, mentor team, and drive business development
Job Highlights
About the Role
In this role you will lead the town planning team, providing line management and mentorship to junior members while ensuring successful delivery of key planning policy projects such as local plans, strategic growth studies and infrastructure strategies. You will represent AECOM to clients, local authorities and external stakeholders, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and uphold quality assurance and health‑and‑safety standards. Business development is also a core focus, involving client relationship nurturing and the preparation of commercial tenders. • Lead and mentor the town planning team, providing line management to junior staff. • Deliver key planning policy projects, including local plans, growth studies and infrastructure strategies. • Offer strategic planning advice and represent AECOM to clients, authorities and at industry events. • Coordinate multidisciplinary teams to ensure projects are on budget and on schedule. • Oversee quality assurance, health and safety compliance, and deliverables of the planning team. • Drive business development by nurturing client relationships and preparing commercial tenders.
Key Responsibilities
- ▸team leadership
- ▸policy delivery
- ▸strategic advice
- ▸team coordination
- ▸quality assurance
- ▸business development
What You Bring
We are seeking an Associate Director to join our leadership team as planning policy project wins accelerate. The role requires proven experience in planning policy, strategy and project management, and offers the chance to shape high‑quality work that drives business growth. The position can be based in any of our UK offices—London Aldgate, Basingstoke, Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Chesterfield, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, or Plymouth—and is available on a full‑time or part‑time hybrid basis. The ideal candidate has significant experience leading planning policy and strategy in a consultancy or public‑sector setting, strong client‑focused interpersonal skills and existing relationships with local authorities. A business‑development mindset, high‑quality technical report writing ability, and the capacity to work independently under pressure are essential. You must hold a degree in Town Planning or a related discipline and be a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or an equivalent professional body. • Possess extensive experience leading planning policy and strategy in consultancy or public sector. • Demonstrate strong client and stakeholder relations with existing contacts in local authorities. • Hold a degree in Town Planning (or related) and membership of RTPI or equivalent professional body.
Requirements
- ▸planning policy
- ▸strategy
- ▸rtpi
- ▸town planning
- ▸stakeholder relations
- ▸project management
Benefits
AECOM values diversity, including neurodiversity, and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and abilities. We offer hybrid working flexibility, a wide range of compensation, benefits and well‑being programmes, and a culture that supports learning, development and career progression. As an Equal Opportunity and Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable accommodations and a supportive environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work.
Work Environment
Hybrid