Join Our Team at DAC Planning — Chartered Planner

Are you a passionate and talented chartered town planner looking for your next challenge? Do you want to work on interesting and high-profile projects that make a genuine difference to communities across the country? If so, we want to hear from you.

 

DAC Planning is a professional planning consultancy dedicated to providing expert planning advice and support to local authorities, local communities and public sector bodies nationally. We combine our deep experience in local government with our consultancy expertise — because we understand how planning works in practice.

 

We are proud holders of the RTPI Excellence in Digital Planning Award and in 2023 we were awarded the RTPI Small Planning Consultancy of the Year (East of England) Award. We are a friendly, dedicated and ambitious team, united by a shared passion for the plan-led planning system and the communities we serve.

 

We are now looking to appoint an experienced chartered planner to join us. Depending on your skills and experience, this role could be at Planner, Senior Planner, Principal Planner or Associate level.

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The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing consultancy at a pivotal time. You will work on a diverse range of projects for clients nationally, contributing to work that shapes communities and supports the delivery of sustainable development. Projects you could be involved in include:

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• Local Plan production and examination support, including policy drafting, evidence base work, project management and consultation

• Infrastructure planning and Infrastructure Delivery Plans

• Developer contributions, CIL and S106 advice

• Training delivery through The Planning Academy, our dedicated training service

• Neighbourhood Plan support, from inception through to examination

• Research projects

• Development management support to local planning authorities in relation to high profile schemes of strategic importance

• Planning appeals and expert witness support

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We welcome further expertise in our existing project areas and actively encourage candidates to pursue new projects aligned with their interests and strengths.

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About You

We are flexible on the level at which we appoint, and we are open to candidates across a range of experience levels. Above all, we are looking for someone who shares our values and our passion for the work we do. You will:

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• Hold RTPI chartered status

• Have a proven track record of delivering high-quality planning work

• Be an excellent communicator with strong written and verbal skills

• Have good political and commercial acumen

• Be self-motivated, organised and able to manage your own workload

• Be a collaborative team player with high personal standards

• Ideally have experience in planning policy and/or Local Plan work, though we welcome a range of planning backgrounds

 

Location

We are based in Colchester and our preference is for candidates who can work from our office on a regular basis, alongside an element of home working.

 

What We Offer

In addition to a competitive salary (commensurate with experience) and pension contribution, DAC Planning offers:

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• 25 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays

• Health and wellness benefits including life insurance, an Employee Assistance Programme and a virtual GP

• RTPI subscription fees paid

• Ongoing CPD opportunities including attendance at national conferences

• Flexible working arrangements including flexible hours, part-time and full-time options

• Volunteering opportunities at Jordan's Farm, a local rewilding project

• A supportive and friendly working culture with regular team meetings and social activities

• The opportunity to contribute to the development and growth of the business

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The closing date for applications is Monday 11th May at 5pm.

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For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Vicki Willis or Nicki Faulkner on 01206 688103 or admin@dacplanning.com.

 

DAC Planning is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that all employees and job applicants receive equal treatment regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability or any other protected characteristic. We believe that diversity and inclusion make us a stronger, more innovative organisation and we actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.​

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