Associate Director - Planning & Infrastructure

Associate Director - Planning & Infrastructure

London

Location:
London (Chancery Lane)

Working Pattern:
Full time, hybrid working (3 days in office, 2 days flex)

Why Grayling?

At Grayling, you’ll be part of one of the UK’s most respected integrated communications agencies.

We offer a supportive and ambitious culture where your ideas are heard, your growth is championed, and your work has real impact.

We’re serious about our work but never about ourselves, so if you’re looking for your next move and are passionate about the built environment you’ve come to the right place!

Grayling Planning & Infrastructure deliver communications and engagement services that protect and enhance our client’s reputations across:

• The UK’s energy transition: policy analysis and supporting energy generation and transmission projects
• Major economic development: freeports, town centre regeneration and garden villages

Our multi‑award‑winning consultants, based across Grayling's nine UK offices, manage communications and engagement for major TCPA and NSIP projects from consultation to consent.

• Provide strategic counsel and advice to clients, developing and delivering innovative, insightful and integrated solutions of the highest standards.
• Experience leading teams to deliver large TCPA applications and, ideally, DCO applications
• Managing all parts of the consultation and engagement process, from pre‑planning to construction comms.
• Lead on new business proposals and pitches.
• Delivering new business leads.
• Proactive networking to grow contacts
• Lead stakeholder and community consultation events.
• Building an appreciation of the relationship between client service and profitability, escalating any issues to the appropriate level.
• Managing and developing junior staff using the appropriate people management techniques, resolving or escalating issues promptly and fairly, along with celebrating successes
• Demonstrating an in‑depth understanding of key social media platforms and how they can be used for engagement purposes
• Understanding and managing the relationship between client service and profitability, escalating any issues to the appropriate level

• Significant stakeholder and community engagement experience within an agency, across the energy, infrastructure and regeneration space
• Demonstrated ability to craft compelling Linked In profiles and thought leadership articles
• Proven experience leveraging professional networks to identify and secure new business opportunities
• Strategic, analytical thinker with the initiative to see a programme through from start to finish
• Confident networker – adept at staying in touch with key decision makers and contacts
• Ability to digest and organise large volumes of information quickly, and stay abreast of ever‑changing political and social developments that may affect client work
• Strong understanding of workings of both traditional PR and PA
• Supportive, inspiring and motivational leader
• Self‑aware and able to adapt personal style and approach to clients and team
• Calm and authoritative in response to issues or crisis

• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working & flexi time and 4pm Friday finishes
• 25 days’ holiday, increasing by one day every year up to 30 days
• Additional day of leave on your birthday & gifted time off over Christmas
• A monthly cash allowance to use on the benefits most important to you - you'll have the freedom to choose how you enjoy it!
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies including five months fully paid maternity leave / two months paternity leave. For further details please see our website
• Free subscription to Calm app
• Free breakfasts & fruit
• An abundance of personal development opportunities, through our internal training programmes
• New business and employee referral bonuses
• Interest‑free season ticket loan & Railcard reimbursement
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering a 24/7 confidential advice line
• Life assurance

Grayling is the UK’s best‑connected communications agency, working across Public Affairs, Planning & Infrastructure, Consumer and Corporate. With nine UK offices and 20+ worldwide,…