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 legacies through innovative solutions, making it an ideal workplace for planners passionate about environmental impact. Their UK operations focus on delivering transformative projects that shape communities, offering professionals the chance to work on high-profile policy initiatives with real-world consequences.

About This Role

This Senior Town Planner - Policy role involves leading planning policy projects for UK local authorities, including local plan development, strategic growth studies, and infrastructure strategies. You'll directly influence sustainable urban development while managing multidisciplinary teams and client relationships, making this position impactful for shaping future communities across the UK.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing local plan evidence with environmental specialists, meeting with local authority clients to discuss policy frameworks, and coordinating with infrastructure teams on growth strategy alignment. You'd likely spend time preparing tender documents for new commissions while managing ongoing project timelines and budgets.

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🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of senior-level UK planning policy experience, specifically with local authority policy development and strategic growth studies
  • Demonstrates proven ability to manage complex planning policy projects on budget and timeline while coordinating multidisciplinary teams
  • Possesses strong stakeholder engagement skills with experience representing organizations at planning conferences and networking events
  • Shows business development acumen through experience preparing commercial tenders and nurturing client relationships in the UK planning sector

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Highlight specific UK local authority projects you've worked on, naming councils and describing your role in policy development

2

Quantify your project management achievements (e.g., 'delivered 3 local plan evidence studies 15% under budget') rather than using generic statements

3

Reference AECOM's 'sustainable legacies' focus by connecting your experience to environmental and infrastructure solutions

4

Demonstrate your multidisciplinary coordination experience with concrete examples involving other specialties like environmental or transport planning

5

Include any experience with UK planning policy frameworks like the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) or specific regional strategies

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your direct experience with UK local authority policy development and strategic growth studies', 'Specific examples of managing planning policy projects within budget and timeline constraints', "How your approach aligns with AECOM's focus on sustainable infrastructure and environmental solutions", 'Your business development experience, particularly with commercial tenders in the planning sector']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → AECOM's recent UK infrastructure projects and their sustainability components
  • → The company's 'Sustainable Legacies' strategy and how it applies to urban planning
  • → Current UK planning policy trends and challenges local authorities are facing
  • → AECOM's multidisciplinary service offerings beyond planning to understand team coordination needs

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your experience with a specific UK local plan evidence study from initiation to delivery
2 How would you approach coordinating a multidisciplinary team for a strategic growth study involving environmental and transport planners?
3 Describe a time you had to manage stakeholder conflicts during policy development and how you resolved them
4 What strategies would you use to develop new business opportunities in the UK planning policy market?
5 How do you ensure planning policies balance growth objectives with AECOM's sustainability commitments?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Failing to provide specific UK planning policy examples or mentioning irrelevant international experience without UK context
  • Overemphasizing technical planning skills while neglecting business development and client relationship aspects
  • Using generic sustainability language without connecting it to practical planning policy applications

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AECOM!

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