Description:
We are looking for a skilled and strategic Associate Director - Consents Management, to lead and develop our consents team, manage operations, and support the delivery of high-quality services across a diverse portfolio of projects.
This senior role blends technical leadership, commercial management, and team development. You will oversee a team of consents managers, ensure robust project delivery, and play a central role in business planning, work-winning, and client relationship management. The ideal candidate will bring a strong consents background combined with proven leadership and business acumen.
We would expect candidates to have a strong Town Planning background and knowledge of wider consents permits and licenses required to implement new developments. We specifically seek somebody with experience within Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and a thorough understanding of the legislative requirements required under the DCO planning process.
You are to be responsible for evaluating consents and engagement requirements to ensure that Assystem deploy a cost effective and sustainable solution to our client.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Promotion and delivery of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects through Development Consent Order (DCO) legislation
- Delivery of technical engagement programmes for stakeholders including local authorities, statutory and non-statutory bodies and the general public
- Ensure preparation of and submission of high-quality planning documents, including Environmental Statements, Planning Statements, and Statements of Community Consultation.
- Stakeholder facilitation, negotiation and mediation
- Provide planning advice throughout the lifecycle of infrastructure projects—from site selection and scoping through to examination and consent.
- Planning and consenting legislation
- Coordinate input from technical disciplines to inform planning strategy and project design.
- Support the discharge of requirements post-DCO consent and assist with securing any associated consents (e.g., Section 106, Environmental Permits).
- Collaborative and cross disciplinary working
- knowledge of wider consenting regimes e.g. Environmental permits
- Project management and co-ordination of large, multi-disciplinary teams
Team and Practice Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and manage a team of consents managers and town planners including senior, mid-level, and junior staff.
- Ensure team resourcing aligns with project demands, managing workloads and recruitment as needed.
- Champion best practice in Consents Management, H&S, quality assurance, and compliance with legislation and guidance.
Strategic and Commercial Management
- Develop and implement practice growth plans in line with the company’s wider strategic goals.
- Lead or support work-winning activities including tendering, fee proposals, client pitches, and framework bids.
Stakeholder and Client Engagement
- Act as a senior point of contact for clients, collaborators, regulators, and partners.
- Build and maintain strong professional networks and relationships to support business development.
- Represent the Consents Management discipline internally and externally at industry events, conferences, and forums.
Skills & Experience:
- Significant experience and knowledge of delivering projects through Town & Country Planning Act legislation
- Prior experience of delivering a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project through the Planning Act 2008 legislation or similar including large EIA projects
- Up to date with latest developments in Professional Competence
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop positive internal and external relationships at all levels.
- Good negotiation / collaboration skills to ensure full support within the framework.
- Embraces and leads change with an ability to influence and implement best practice internally and at project level.
- High levels of resilience and adaptability
- Proven ability to influence and persuade key stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering stakeholder engagement and managing communications that are underpinned by a customer focus.
- Strong commercial acumen.
- Experience across a number of sectors particularly Energy, Water and Transportation
Qualifications
- Relevant degree
- Chartered member of appropriate relevant professional institute (e.g. MRTPI, RICS, ISEP (Formally IEMA) or similar)