Company Description
Assystem is a global engineering and digital services company that plays a key role in large infrastructure projects, especially those related to complex, highly regulated industries. In the infrastructure sector, Assystem works across various domains to support the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
Assystem provides specialized Infrastructure Consents Management services to support the successful delivery of large-scale, complex infrastructure projects—particularly in highly regulated environments such as nuclear, energy, transport, and water development.
Navigating the complex web of planning permissions, environmental approvals, regulatory licenses, and stakeholder consultations is critical to the timely execution of infrastructure projects. Assystem’s consents management team ensures that all necessary permissions are identified, obtained, and maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
Job Description
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Town Planner to join our team in Glasgow, working on a diverse portfolio of major infrastructure and development projects across Scotland and the UK. This role is ideal for a planner with strong expertise in Scottish Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Knowledge and experience of environmental permitting via SEPA and marine licensing processes would be expected.
The successful candidate will play a key advisory and delivery role on multi-disciplinary projects, particularly in infrastructure sectors such as energy, marine, transport, and utilities. The role requires excellent communication and project management skills, along with the ability to navigate complex regulatory environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead or support the planning and consenting strategy for major infrastructure projects, including terrestrial and marine developments.
- Provide expert advice on the Scottish planning system.
- Manage and coordinate the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, including screening, scoping, stakeholder engagement, and technical review.
- Delivery of technical engagement programmes for stakeholders including local authorities, statutory and non-statutory bodies and the general public
- Stakeholder facilitation, negotiation and mediation
- Collaborative and cross disciplinary working
- Prepare and submit a range of planning applications and supporting documents, including Planning Statements, Design and Access Statements, and Environmental Reports.
- Liaise with planning authorities, SEPA, Marine Scotland, and other statutory bodies to facilitate smooth consent processes.
- Lead or support the application process for environmental permits under SEPA’s regulatory frameworks.
- Manage or contribute to the preparation and submission of marine licence applications to Marine Scotland, including understanding of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and related regulations.
- Advise on how planning and consenting strategies align with wider masterplans and portfolio development objectives.
- Keep up to date with changes in Scottish planning, environmental legislation, and marine licensing requirements.
- Support business development, client engagement, and mentoring of junior team members.
Qualifications
- Sole UK National
- Degree in Town Planning, Environmental Planning, or related discipline (RTPI-accredited).
- Chartered Member of the RTPI (or working toward chartership).
- Good stakeholder engagement skills
- Significant experience in Scottish planning and major infrastructure development, ideally within consultancy, regulatory, or client-side roles.
- Strong working knowledge of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under Scottish and UK legislation.
- Experience engaging with SEPA and managing environmental permits, including understanding of the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) and Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC).
- Demonstrated experience with Marine Licensing, including preparation and submission of marine licence applications and engagement with Marine Scotland.
- Strong project management, report writing, and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, work to deadlines, and collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop positive internal and external relationships at all levels.
- Good negotiation / collaboration skills to ensure full support within the framework.
- Embraces and leads change with an ability to influence and implement best practice internally and at project level.
- High levels of resilience and adaptability
- Proven ability to influence and persuade key stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering stakeholder engagement and managing communications that are underpinned by a customer focus.
Additional Information
Behavioural Qualities:
We place great emphasis on both written and verbal communication; those that flourish within our organisation are naturally inclined to engage with their colleagues & stakeholders alike and to be proactive in reaching out to others in overcoming hurdles.
In common with many places of work, we seek personnel that are professional, positive, open and honest. We would expect the successful candidate to exhibit, support and champion as a leader the following behavioural traits:
- Ability to see things differently – prepared to question standard approaches in order to manage consenting risks and programme deadlines
- Support and develop – create a local leadership team by delegation, coaching and mentoring
- Decisiveness – makes day-to-day business choices that have commercial implications, knowing when to inform others or ask for support.
What We Offer:
- Supportive, collaborative team environment.
- Hybrid/flexible working arrangements.
- Competitive salary and bonus structure.
- Career development pathways, training budgets, and professional support.
We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter !. Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future.
