DCO Planning Director

Hybrid working is offered (2-3 days in the office and the other days remote) with home office in either London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds
* NOTE* - other locations considered for the right candidate

Are you motivated to play a crucial role in advising and securing approvals for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and ensuring smooth project progression?

If this sounds like you and you’re curious to learn more, then this role could be the perfect opportunity. Join our Impact Assessment Team as our DCO Planning Director for NSIPs and work with us to close the gap to a sustainable future.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the planning team at Ramboll and take ownership of the Development Consent Order (DCO) process. Reporting to the Head of Department, you will lead DCO projects and have experience of achieving Consent by leading project teams and utilising experience across a range of services and sectors.

You will have deep technical expertise, disciplined leadership, and as a client-facing role, you will be responsible internally and to our clients for the quality, delivery and performance of your discipline aligned with Ramboll’s strategic ambitions.

• Leading NSIP projects through the DCO process, providing technical advice to clients and managing their consenting requirements.
• Leading on complex negotiations with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients.
• Acting as Planning Expert Witness at DCO examinations.
• Owning the delivery and performance of your discipline. You will be responsible to your client and within Ramboll for successful delivery, working closely with colleagues and bringing to bear the existing expertise of Ramboll staff; ensuring the right people and expertise are allocated and take responsibility successful delivery.
• Having a strong understanding of project finances, being accountable for financial metrics and overall business results, and reporting on this monthly.
• Preparing and implementing a comprehensive business plan to facilitate the delivery of strategy.
• Line management / mentoring colleagues by supporting them in their work project delivery roles.
• Be an ambassador to the company — be the face of your discipline and our offering.
• Staying up to date with best practices and innovation within your discipline.
• Proactively engaging with clients: build relationships, identify opportunities and win work.
• Be a champion for sustainable development, finding opportunities beyond the brief to improve our projects and working with clients for implementation.
• Build your internal and external network. Collaborate closely with other disciplines within Ramboll.

You will join our Impact Assessment Team, comprising qualified Town Planning and environmental experts and be part of a diverse group of professionals with varied backgrounds and shared ambition.

From the moment you start at Ramboll, we will support your personal and professional development so that you can continue to grow with the company.

The ideal candidate is MRTPI qualified, a technically strong, client-oriented leader with proven experience in obtaining consent for NSIPs with a solid understanding of the DCO process. You will be conversant with consents management, environmental permitting, or regulatory compliance, comfortable with clients, leading discipline teams, and shaping projects that deliver measurable value and sustainable impact.

• Minimum 15 years’ experience, and at least 5 years in a role where you were responsible for delivering the discipline and managing a team.
• Experience leading large project teams and/or coordinating across multiple projects, and the integration of the NSIPs consenting process with others in multidisciplinary environments.
• A good general knowledge of the environmental and sustainability market and an in-depth knowledge of key sectors.
• Proven experience in developing business relationships and leveraging market opportunities.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Chartered professional (most likely MRTPI).
• Proactive and energetic, with the mindset to grow work for your…