We’re hiring

About the role

Parker Dann Town Planning is looking for a Town Planner who benefits from practical experience within the UK town planning system  to join our growing consultancy. This is an opportunity to play a meaningful role in a small, ambitious team, working closely with our Directors and taking real responsibility for your own projects. You’ll work across a diverse range of schemes offering clear, commercially focused planning advice.

Depending on your experience level, you will:

• Lead or support a variety of planning projects from inception to determination
• Prepare high-quality planning documentation (Planning Statements, Design & Access Statements, Appeal Statements, and more)
• Manage client relationships and act as a trusted adviser
• Coordinate complex application submissions
• Attend and present at planning committees and stakeholder meetings
• Advise clients on Local Development Plan preparation
• Be capable of progressing existing projects once given guidance; progressing to dealing with instructions and clients alone after an introductory period; and potentially winning new work alone once you have more experience
• (Senior level) Provide mentorship to junior team members and present evidence at appeals and inquiries

Why join Parker Dann?
We’re a growing consultancy where your contribution genuinely matters. Unlike larger firms, you’ll have:

• Real ownership of your work and client relationships
• Direct access to decision-makers and business strategy
• Varied and interesting projects across the South East
• The chance to develop your career in line with your interests and strengths

We are on a journey to build a consultancy known for excellent, pragmatic planning advice and strong client relationships—and we’re looking for people who want to grow with us.

Working Environment

• Office hours: 9:00am–5:30pm, Monday to Friday [30 minutes unpaid lunch break]
• Office based at the University of Sussex campus (Falmer, Brighton)
• Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office)
• Flexible working considered— we currently employ a mix of full and part-time staff, so tell us what would work for you

About you
We’re particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• At least 1 year of practical experience working within the UK planning system
• Ability to manage projects and priorities effectively
• High-quality written work and attention to detail
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Self-motivation and confidence in your planning capability

For more senior applicants, we’d also value:

• Experience managing clients independently
• Confidence in networking or business development (support will be provided)
• Mentoring or leadership experience

At this moment in time we need to hire someone with experience. Whilst the 1 year’s practical experience is very important to us, you don’t need to meet every single requirement to apply—if you feel you’d be a strong fit, we’d love to hear from you.

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant degree (or equivalent experience)
• At least 1 year of practical post-graduate experience in consultancy or public sector planning
• RTPI Licentiate (Planner level) or Chartered (Senior level) desirable
• Knowledge of planning in the South East is helpful, but not essential
• A driving licence can be beneficial for site visits, but we are open to discussing alternative arrangements

Please note: This is not a remote role. Applicants must be UK based, able to travel to the office near Brighton regularly, and have the right to work in the UK for at least 2 years  (we are not able to offer sponsorship).

What we offer
Core package

• Competitive salary (indicative range based on experience – details available on request)
• Discretionary annual bonus
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• 3% employer pension contribution
• Ongoing mentoring and career development

 Additional benefits

• Extra day of leave per year of service (up to 28 days)
• 3 additional days’ gifted leave over Christmas/New Year closure
• Paid professional membership
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Quarterly team social events

Career Development
We are committed to supporting your progression. As the company grows, there will be clear opportunities to develop into more senior roles, expand your client base, and shape your career path.

Our commitment to inclusion
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive workplace. If you require adjustments during the recruitment process or in the role itself, we are happy to discuss this with you.

How to apply
The application deadline is Wednesday 7th October 2026. We are recruiting for up to two roles. We review applications on an ongoing basis and may invite candidates to interview before the closing date, so early applications are encouraged. 

To apply, please send:

• A CV (max. 2 pages)
• A short covering letter explaining:
• Why you’re interested in the role
• What you would bring to the team
• What flexibility (if any) you might need to perform well in the role

Email: hr@parkerdann.co.uk

If you’d like an informal conversation before applying, feel free to get in touch to arrange a confidential conversation with one of our Directors.