Graduate Town Planner / Town Planner

Role: Graduate Town Planner

Location: Bedfordshire

Hybrid: Office-based for the first month, then 3 days office / 2 days home

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Experience Required: Graduate - 2 years

About The Role

This is an excellent opportunity for a Graduate Town Planner or someone at the early stages of their career to take responsibility for end-to-end delivery, with full support from Senior Planners and a buddy system. You will manage the planning process for multiple large-scale projects from inception to decision, working with in-house design, external architects and sub-consultants. You'll coordinate inputs, produce/sign-off planning reports, and represent the company in appropriate external forums. Their project portfolio is truly unique, centred on delivering high-quality bereavement and community infrastructure—meaningful work with tangible impact.

Who They're Looking For

• Graduate Planner or up to 2 years' experience
• Full UK driving license, with willingness to travel to site visits across the UK
• Bright, energetic, sociable personality
• Someone who can work independently and manage their time
• Commercially minded and client-focused
• Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or eligibility for chartered status, preferable

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the planning process for multiple large-scale projects, ensuring quality deliverables and on-time milestones.
• Prepare, review and sign off planning reports and supporting documents.
• Provide planning advice to clients to navigate regulatory matters.
• Represent the company at relevant planning forums, including public consultations, stakeholder events and meetings with authorities (as appropriate to role level).
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams (internal and external) to deliver cohesive submissions.
• Lead and oversee planning applications end-to-end (pre-app, submission, post-decision conditions).
• Contribute to policy documents and feasibility studies to inform new/existing projects.
• Use GIS/tools for site analysis and evidence-based recommendations.
• Monitor and report on application/appeal status; ensure timely actions across RIBA Stages 1-6.

Projects

Specialise in Development Management, delivering meaningful and sensitive community projects such as:

• Parish extensions
• Crematorium developments
• Wider community and cemetery infrastructure

You'll be at the heart of creating beautiful, accessible spaces for communities—a genuinely rewarding area of planning.

Why Join This Company?

• Hybrid work - first month in office, then 3 in / 2 home
• Beautiful working environment - national park location, manor-house offices
• Strong team culture - sociable, inclusive, open-plan offices
• Growth - expanding team with exciting new projects
• Structured support - weekly project meetings, a buddy system, close collaboration with the Planning Manager

Benefits

• Annual 2% cost-of-living salary increase
• Christmas bonus
• Summer team event & formal Christmas function
• On-site parking

Desired Skills And Experience

Town Planning Graduate

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk.