SLR has a successful and growing Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment team that works across all business sectors throughout the UK, along with international businesses. We are now looking to appoint an established Director, with strong experience across built environment, to lead on the expansion of our North West team based in Manchester and Bolton.
You will be involved in leading a variety of projects from major planning and EIA applications to smaller submissions, site promotion work, planning appeals, planning appraisals, and more, for a wide range of clients. You will help to support the team in supplying the full range of planning services to clients, working alongside our internal technical teams as well as external consultant / project teams. In addition, you will be expected to win new clients, helping grow the portfolio and professional development of the Northern Planning Team.
SLR's Northern Planning Team leads a range of diverse planning projects, including energy, minerals, waste, commercial and residential, across England for both national and regional clients. You'll be an integral part of a dynamic and growing team that values collaboration, innovation, and delivering high-quality planning advice. You’ll contribute to shaping sustainable communities, managing complex projects, and supporting clients through every stage of the planning process.
The role will comprise a mixture of home working and working from your preferred office, with opportunities to work from our Manchester office (Northern Quarter) or Bolton (Middlebrook). The planning team is usually in the office three days a week.
Rewards & Benefits
SLR's ‘One Team’ culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment where people can develop and grow. Through a structured career framework, regular performance reviews, and support towards chartership, professional qualifications and licences, we offer excellent opportunities for long-term career progression. Our flexible benefits and reward package includes:
Competitive salary with discretionary bonus
Company pension
Private medical insurance
Life, income, and travel insurance
Salary sacrifice car lease and cycle‑to‑work schemes
Volunteering and Community Giving
Flexible, hybrid and agile working
25 days’ annual leave plus flexible public holidays
Buy or sell leave options
Core working hours
Cross‑border remote working and sabbatical opportunities
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay
Workplace Nursery benefit
The role
You will work within an experienced team, with the opportunity to work with the SLR offices around the UK and be involved in a series of exciting challenges with one of the leading environmental consultancies in the UK.
While our Northern planning team works on a wide range of energy, minerals, waste and commercial schemes, offering involvement in a broad range of planning projects, we are looking for someone with a strong residential and commercial focus to develop new projects, predominantly in the North-west. The ideal candidate will work to expand the Manchester team and to bring in new work and ideally be central to growing our presence in Manchester.
Lead and manage a range of planning projects from initial inception and early strategy development, including site promotion, through to consent and development stages
Provide strategic planning advice throughout the development process
Work alongside the planning director and wider team to lead and coordinate a range of in-house and external technical specialists
Contribute to developing and expanding the client base for the team
Lead on the management, preparation and review of a range of planning and technical reports and supporting documentation
Represent the business and its clients to key stakeholders, local authorities and regulators
Participate in business development and networking activities to promote SLR and the Northern Planning Team to new and existing…