Associate Planning Officer

Overview

Capita Local Public Services is looking for an experienced Associate Planner to lead our Planning function — effectively the Head of Planning within our professional consultancy. This is an exciting opportunity to shape, grow and lead a planning team delivering high‑quality regulatory services into local authorities across the UK.

As the Associate Planner, you will lead a multidisciplinary planning team of around 19 people, including Development Management planners, Principal Planners, Planning Managers and a small Planning Policy team. You will drive operational excellence, ensure high‑quality project delivery, and support the commercial performance of the function. This is a senior leadership role requiring strong planning expertise, team leadership capability, and the ability to operate in a commercial consultancy environment.

Important:
This is not a local authority Head of Planning role. You will be leading a consultancy‑based planning team that provides development management, policy work, and planning expertise into local authorities. This is a home‑based role with regular travel required to our Belfast and Manchester offices (typically weekly or as needed to support team relationships and delivery).

• Leading the full planning team (approx. 19 people) across Development Management and Planning Policy
• Providing day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, 1:1s, performance management and resource oversight
• Ensuring high standard delivery of regulatory planning services into local authority clients
• Supporting project delivery where needed, including occasional hands‑on DM or policy work
• Contributing to forecasting, commercial reviews and fee proposal development
• Driving quality, utilisation and operational efficiency within the team
• Representing the Planning function within the consultancy and supporting wider business priorities

Essential

• RTPI membership
• Degree in Town Planning or a closely related discipline
• Strong experience in regulatory planning (local authority OR consultancy serving local authorities)
• Demonstrated management and leadership experience
• Minimum 5 years relevant experience

Desirable

• P&L or commercial management experience (beneficial but not essential)

Capita is an outsourcer, helping clients across the public and private sectors run complex business processes more efficiently, creating better consumer experiences. Operating across 8 countries, Capita’s 41,000 colleagues support primarily UK and European clients with people‑based services underpinned by market‑leading technology. We’re a vital support service for our clients, enabling the everyday interactions that we expect to run seamlessly.

A publicly listed business with adjusted revenue of £2.6bn, Capita’s areas of focus are Central Government, Local Public Service, Defence, Learning, Fire & Security, Contact Centres and Pensions Solutions. We’re embracing change to respond to the ever‑changing needs of society, creating better outcomes for all our stakeholders.

• 23 days’ holiday (rising to 27) with the opportunity to buy extra leave
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice
• Auto‑enrolment to our company pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks… and plenty more
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle – from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology
• Access to our Employee Network Groups, which represent every strand of diversity and allow colleagues to connect and learn from each other on an open, inclusive platform
• You’ll get the chance to follow your chosen career path anywhere in Capita. You’ll be joining a network of experienced, innovative and dedicated individuals across multiple disciplines and sectors. There are countless opportunities to learn new skills and develop in your career, and we’ll provide the support you need to do just that. Our purpose is to create a better outcome for you.

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