Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Town Planner - Policy
at AECOM
🏢 About AECOM
AECOM stands out as a global infrastructure consulting firm that prioritizes sustainable development and innovative solutions, particularly in the UK where they work on transformative projects shaping communities. Their commitment to 'building sustainable legacies' means employees contribute to long-term environmental and social impact, not just technical deliverables. Working here offers exposure to high-profile policy projects and a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment focused on future-ready infrastructure.
About This Role
This Senior Town Planner - Policy role involves leading planning policy projects for UK local authorities, including developing local plans, strategic growth studies, and infrastructure strategies. You'll directly influence sustainable community development while managing budgets, timelines, and multidisciplinary teams. The position combines technical expertise with business development, requiring you to represent AECOM at conferences and nurture client relationships for new opportunities.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing evidence studies for a local plan, coordinating with environmental consultants on policy integration, and preparing for a client meeting with a UK local authority planning team. You could spend the afternoon developing tender documents for a new strategic growth study while mentoring junior planners on policy analysis, followed by representing AECOM at a planning policy networking event.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of senior-level UK planning policy experience, specifically with local authority policy development and local plan delivery including evidence studies
- Demonstrates proven success managing complex planning projects on budget and timeline while coordinating multidisciplinary teams (e.g., environmental, engineering specialists)
- Possesses strong client relationship skills with experience in business development, including preparing commercial tenders for policy commissions
- Can articulate how their work aligns with sustainable development principles and AECOM's focus on innovative infrastructure solutions
📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM
Quantify your local plan experience: specify how many local plans you've supported, types of evidence studies you've managed (e.g., housing needs assessments, green infrastructure strategies), and project values
Highlight UK-specific policy knowledge: mention familiarity with National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Local Plan examinations, or specific UK planning legislation relevant to policy development
Connect to AECOM's sustainability focus: describe how your policy work has advanced sustainable outcomes (e.g., net-zero alignment, biodiversity net gain, climate resilience)
Show multidisciplinary coordination: provide examples of working with environmental consultants, engineers, or transport planners on integrated policy solutions
Demonstrate business development capability: include metrics on tender success rates, client retention, or revenue growth from policy commissions in previous roles
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your direct experience with UK local authority policy development and local plan delivery, specifying authorities you've worked with and plan stages managed", 'Examples of managing planning policy projects within budget and timeline constraints, particularly those involving evidence studies or infrastructure strategies', "How your approach aligns with AECOM's sustainable legacy focus, citing specific sustainable outcomes from your policy work", 'Your business development contributions, such as tender preparation success or client relationship building in the planning policy sector']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → AECOM's UK planning projects: review their recent work on local plans or infrastructure strategies (check their UK project portfolio and case studies)
- → Their sustainability commitments: understand their Sustainable Legacies strategy and how it applies to UK planning policy work
- → Recent AECOM thought leadership: read their UK planning policy insights, blogs, or conference presentations to understand their approach
- → Their multidisciplinary model: explore how their UK planning team collaborates with environmental, transport, and engineering divisions
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic application materials that don't specify UK planning policy experience or local authority work
- Focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating business development or client relationship capabilities
- Failing to connect your experience to sustainability outcomes or AECOM's specific focus on innovative infrastructure solutions
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!