Associate/Technical Director - Infrastructure Planning

At Dalcour Maclaren, we're key players in the Utilities and Infrastructure industry, bringing the UK and Ireland closer to Net Zero every day. Our land, environmental and geospatial experts work together to unlock the consents needed by our clients to deliver key projects. Our services include land access and assembly, agricultural liaison, planning, environmental impact assessments and geospatial mapping. Join us, and play your part in helping us to achieve our vision; to be the professional services team of choice, leading the Utilities and Infrastructure industry to a sustainable future. 

Our Scottish Environment and Planning Team is looking an Associate / Technical Director in Planning to bolster the existing planning expertise in this busy and exciting part of the business which is continuing to grow. This role is based at our Stirling office and will primarily involve working on a diverse portfolio of projects, supporting the delivery of major infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy developments for our Scotland-based clients. With a strong programme of committed projects scheduled for delivery before the end of the decade, you’ll be joining us at a pivotal time—playing a key role in delivering essential infrastructure and driving sustainable development across the country.

You will be managing and contributing to a variety of projects, including new capital schemes, property portfolio development appraisals and securing planning consents across all utilities and infrastructure sectors.

You will lead or manage a small/sub team in providing support, experience and advice on environmental and planning considerations and consenting regimes.  The work covers a wide range of sites and schemes with varying levels of sensitivity (including linear schemes traversing some of Scotland’s most sensitive landscapes), delivering on a range of services and managing relatively complex projects to a consistently high standard with a view to meet and exceed client objectives. In addition to your core project responsibilities, you will be expected to contribute to the wider UK team—collaborating across offices and disciplines—and play an active role in supporting the Environment and Planning team. The role will also include line management responsibilities, providing guidance and support to junior team members and contributing to their professional development.

As an Associate/Technical Director, you will:

• Lead and manage a small team to deliver strategic advice, guidance and services to a variety of clients on planning and land use, managing and reviewing objectives in own area of responsibility in line with relevant Environmental and Planning related guidance, legislation and policy as applied in UK.

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with a range of internal and external project stakeholders including client teams, technical specialists, Local Planning Authorities, and statutory consultees whilst also drawing on the expertise of specialist colleagues, attending relevant meetings and site visits.

• Report directly to the client, take ownership of own/team performance in meeting deadlines and objectives, ensure project delivery against client programmes, and use a proactive approach and own high level initiative to drive progress and continuously improve delivery.

• Offer the wider Environment and Planning team assistance on other projects and actively support team and wider business development, using own experienced skills to provide guidance on complex cases, seek efficiency gains and identify areas of new work and ways to cross-sell wider company services.

• Maintain own knowledge and skills via company and wider CPD and take responsibility for own learning and progress, scheduling progress review meetings and maintaining an up to date record of activities.

• Monitor, support and coordinate the work and development of more junior members of staff and, if applicable, provide constructive line management to own line reports, engaging in regular progress review and feedback meetings, delegating tasks effectively and showing genuine interest in their welfare and development whilst also being able to hold difficult conversations.

• Participate in and actively support company groups, initiatives, events and socials, promoting DM’s values and always engendering a positive attitude within the workplace.

• Carry out work in compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, contractual and organisational requirements and policies.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Have a relevant planning degree and have achieved chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).

• Have working knowledge of the UK planning system (ideally with a focus on the Scottish framework)

• Have sound analytical and presentation skills coupled with great written and verbal communication skills; ideally you will be able to write and prepare fee proposals for the work you undertake and advise others when inputting into larger multi-disciplinary projects

• Be commercially aware, enabling you to understand client needs and requirements when undertaking negotiations with stakeholders

• Be an excellent communicator with the willingness to learn and develop

• Have good knowledge of GIS systems and an understanding of environmental technical disciplines

• Be self-motivated and organised

• Have a full UK driving licence

• Be a great team player and have a can-do attitude

Benefits:

• Annual bonus scheme

• 25 days annual leave plus 1 day to celebrate your birthday

• Vitality Health Membership (including Private healthcare, subsidised gym membership and other discounts)

• Flexible working through our ‘Flexible Advantage’ supporting working families & your work/life balance

• Pension Scheme via The Peoples Pension

• Life insurance (4x Base Salary)

• Free on-site parking in non-city centre offices

• Cycle to work scheme

• 26 Weeks paid Maternity Leave

• 4 Weeks paid Paternity Leave

• BHN Extras – provides discounted gift cards for hundreds of popular retailers

• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (provided by Octopus Electric Vehicles) effective at 1 years’ service

• Sabbatical Policy effective at 3 years’ service

• Professional development – paid study leave

• Military service paid leave (7.5 days per year)

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) plus wider Mental Health & Wellbeing support

• 2 x Company-wide events every year, in addition to multiple office socials throughout the year

Dalcour Maclaren is an equal opportunities employer.