Senior Town Planner

JOB REQUISITES

What we do

• The appointed candidate will be supporting our UK based Infrastructure Planning team. In the UK, WSP employs over 243 creative planning and environmental impact assessment professionals, including 45 chartered planners, operating across infrastructure and property sectors.
• We in the UK are leaders in securing consent for major infrastructure projects and have one of the largest teams of planning, land referencing, environmental and stakeholder engagement professionals specialising in consent applications across all types of infrastructure - energy, highways, ports, and airports.
• We specialise in providing our clients with advice and support on development proposals throughout the planning process from project feasibility and appraisal of options, through public consultation, application preparation, supporting public inquires and examinations where required. Our clients in the UK include EDF Energy, National Grid, SSE, and Scottish Power Renewables, High Speed 2, Network Rail, National Highways and many more.

Role and responsibilities

• Senior Town Planner part of the Infrastructure Planning team in India (Bengaluru/Noida) will assist UK based Infrastructure Planning and Engagement (IPE) team serving the private development and public sector markets in the UK on a wide variety of high-profile projects across the UK.
• Be mentored, by Planners in Infrastructure Planning teams of both India and UK. Work closely with various teams in the UK at the same time grow the Town Planning capability in the in India (Bengaluru/Noida offices) to support the UK Infrastructure Planning discipline.
• Support WSP UK offices with the development and preparation of planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Acts; Conduct planning policy and history searches, assist senior colleagues with the preparation of planning constraint and strategy notes, research and review of planning policies;
• Support WSP UK offices in the preparation of consent applications for major infrastructure projects including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Schemes under the Planning Act 2008, UK.
• Support WSP UK offices in writing segments of planning application documents such as planning supporting statements, design and access statements, statement of community involvement, response to consultation responses, and other planning related documents required for applications under the Town and Country Planning Act, Transport and Works Act Orders, Planning Act 2008, UK;
• Organise and manage work in a professional and responsible manner, collaborate closely across multi-disciplinary planning, land and environmental teams; Support Team Leader / Line Manager/ Project Manager for on time completion of tasks assigned to WSP s expected standards;
• Clear and constant communication (verbal and written) with colleagues in India and the UK on project related technical communication and day-to-day matters, attend and contribute to team and project meetings;
• Work within project constraints; estimating time and budget requirements;
• Take ownership of tasks assigned and research for solutions where required;
• Expand your role to support the management of projects and development / training of staff in in India (Bengaluru/Noida) to grow the capability. Guide and support other members of the team;
• Provide support in maintaining healthy contact with different UK offices and be responsible for own work with key focus on detail and quality;
• Support Team Leader / Line Manager in planning resources, utilisation, team s performance and development requirements;
• Opportunity to be mentored by the colleagues in the UK for attaining membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
• Be a core member of WSP s Town Planning team, with key focus on detail and quality;
• Contribute to knowledge sharing in internal and external forums.
• Contribute to supporting business development activities, including the writing of technical components for bids and proposals. Explore various business opportunities.
• Ensure that Health Safety is embedded into all work practices in line with company policies;
• Any other task assigned by HoD/ Team Leader / Line Manager
• Complete accurate timesheets by set timeline.

Mandatory Skills

• UK/Relevant International experience is mandatory
• Experience and/ or understanding of town planning practices in the UK;
• Understanding of Town Planning processes and legislation;
• Membership of professional institutions (UK)
• Experience of delivering planning consents for infrastructure projects, working with multi-disciplinary teams and knowledge of the UK planning process.
• In depth knowledge of Town Planning policies, Town Planning practices and legislation, understanding of environment impact assessment
• Consenting of large-scale infrastructure, Hybrid Bills and TWAOs, Urban and regional planning, EIA and environmental management, Development Consent Order (DCO), Planning applications, Town and Country Planning / Planning Act 2008 / Transport and Works Act 1992 / Environmental Impact Assessment
• Experience in project management (delivering and managing projects as project manager), supporting business development activities, including the preparation of technical and commercial components for bids and proposals.
• Report writing and data analysis: ability to produce and contribute to reports, presentations, and technical notes in various formats;
• Passionate with the curiosity and creativity to solve problems;
• Coordination and teamwork: ability to work as part of a team and to work under guidance and also manage a team;
• Good understanding MS Office applications with focus on Word, PowerPoint and Excel;
• Communication: Good written and spoken English; Excellent communication skills, be driven by outcomes, have a conscientious and detailed approach, along with a positive and pro-active approach to the team.
• Client/External focus: Maintaining strong client relationships;
• Have respect for deadlines and achieve targeted results whilst working individually; ability to work under pressure and with minimum of supervision.
• High degree of self-motivation and ability to motivate others, hold and have capability to demonstrate work and moral ethics.
• Zeal to grow self and dedication towards working independently/ with minimal guidance where required;

Desirable Skills

• Paper presented / published in recognised national / international journal(s)/ conference(s).
• Candidates are expected to be able to demonstrate proficiency in ArcGIS, QGIS, AutoCAD.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in Town Planning or relevant field
• Post Graduate qualification in a relevant subject with more than 7 years experience preferably UK/Australia/Similar international