Technical Director

At Dalcour Maclaren, we're key players in the Utilities and Infrastructure industry, bringing the UK and Ireland closer to Net Zero every day. Our land, environmental and geospatial experts work together to unlock the consents needed by our clients to deliver key projects. Our services include land access and assembly, agricultural liaison, planning, environmental impact assessments and geospatial mapping. Join us, and play your part in helping us to achieve our vision; to be the professional services team of choice, leading the Utilities and Infrastructure industry to a sustainable future.

Join Dalcour Maclaren as Technical Director in Planning and help shape infrastructure and renewable energy projects across the UK. This senior role offers the opportunity to lead complex planning work, support growing teams, and contribute to sustainable development through a strong pipeline of long-term client projects.

Role Purpose: Our Environment and Planning Service Line is seeking a Technical Director to join our Planning team as part of our Growth Plan. The role covers a diverse portfolio of projects for UK-based clients in the water, power transmission, distribution and renewables sectors. With a strong pipeline of committed projects through the end of the decade, this is a pivotal opportunity to help deliver essential infrastructure and to support sustainable development nationwide.

Responsibilities include managing and contributing to capital schemes (including DCO/ICO/SRO projects), portfolio development appraisals, and planning consents across utilities and infrastructure sectors.

The role also involves leading or managing a team, providing advice on environmental and planning considerations and consenting regimes across varied sites and schemes. This includes delivering complex projects to a high standard, meeting client objectives, collaborating across UK offices and disciplines, supporting the wider Environment and Planning team, and line-managing junior colleagues to aid their development.

As Technical Director, the role will:

• Lead and manage a small team to deliver strategic advice, guidance and services to a variety of clients on planning and land use, managing and reviewing objectives in own area of responsibility in line with relevant Planning related guidance, legislation and policy as applied in UK.

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with a range of internal and external project stakeholders including client teams, technical specialists, Local Planning Authorities, and statutory consultees whilst also drawing on the expertise of specialist colleagues, attending relevant meetings and site visits.

• Report directly to the client, take ownership of individual and team performance in meeting deadlines and objectives, ensure project delivery against client programmes, and use a proactive approach and high-level initiative to drive progress and continuously improve delivery.

• Offer the wider Environment and Planning team assistance on other projects and actively support team and wider business development, using own experience and skills to provide guidance on complex cases, seek efficiency gains and identify areas of new work and ways to cross-sell wider company services.

• Maintain knowledge and skills through company and wider CPD, taking responsibility for ongoing learning and progress, scheduling progress review meetings and maintaining an up-to-date record of activities.

• Be known as a technical expert in your field, preparing thought leadership pieces and speaking at conferences and events.

• Monitor, support and coordinate the work and development of junior colleagues and, if applicable, provide constructive line management to direct reports, engaging in regular progress review and feedback meetings, delegating tasks effectively and showing genuine interest in their welfare and development while being able to hold difficult conversations.

• Participate in and actively support company groups, initiatives, events and socials, promoting DM’s values and always engendering a positive attitude within the workplace.

• Carry out work in compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, contractual and organisational requirements and policies.

The Successful Candidate will:

• Have a relevant planning degree and have achieved chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).

• Have a strong working knowledge of the UK planning system.

• Have sound analytical and presentation skills coupled with great written and verbal communication skills.

• Be able to write and prepare fee proposals for assigned work and advise others when contributing to larger multi-disciplinary projects.

• Be commercially aware, with the ability to understand client needs and requirements when undertaking negotiations with stakeholders.

• Be an excellent communicator with the willingness to learn and develop.

• Have good knowledge of GIS systems and an understanding of environmental technical disciplines.

• Be self-motivated and organised.

• Have a full UK driving licence.

• Be a great team player and have a can-do attitude.

Benefits:

• Annual bonus scheme

• 25 days annual leave plus 1 day to celebrate your birthday

• Vitality Health Membership (including Private healthcare, subsidised gym membership and other discounts)

• Flexible working through our ‘Flexible Advantage’ supporting working families & your work/life balance

• Pension Scheme via The Peoples Pension

• Life insurance (4x Base Salary)

• Cycle to work scheme

• 26 Weeks paid Maternity Leave

• 4 Weeks paid Paternity Leave

• BHN Extras – provides discounted gift cards for hundreds of popular retailers

• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (provided by Octopus Electric Vehicles) effective at 1 years’ service

• Sabbatical Policy effective at 3 years’ service

• Professional development – paid study leave

• Military service paid leave (7.5 days per year)

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) plus wider Mental Health & Wellbeing support

• 2 x Company-wide events every year, in addition to multiple office socials throughout the year

Dalcour Maclaren is an equal opportunities employer.