Head of Estate Planning & Consent

Head of Estate Planning & Consent

Location:

RG7 4PR
, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. Package: A competitive salary aligned with the seniority and impact of this role. Working Pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight, with every other Friday as a non‑working day. For this role, employees are required to work fully onsite. We support flexible working arrangements where possible, including part-time and varied working hours, while maintaining an onsite presence.

• Lead AWE's planning and consent strategy, providing expert advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Define and maintain standards for planning applications, consents and regulatory compliance across the estate.
• Oversee planning applications from development through submission, approval and implementation.
• Ensure compliance with planning conditions and associated consents across AWE sites.
• Manage AWE's external planning commitments and site development activities.
• Review local and national planning policies, assessing potential impacts on AWE's operations and future programmes.
• Provide planning advice to AWE and MoD on external developments that could affect AWE sites and interests.
• Represent AWE with regulators, local authorities, government bodies and community stakeholders.
• Lead site‑wide consenting activities relating to biodiversity, sustainability, net zero and other strategic initiatives.
• Act as the central point of coordination for planning and consent activities across the business.
• Work closely with legal, environmental, engineering and project delivery teams to ensure aligned and efficient approvals processes.
• Identify future planning and consent requirements and support stakeholders in developing robust submissions.
• Advise on key planning risks, issues and opportunities, ensuring these are effectively managed and communicated.
• Support the development of AWE's Establishment Master Plan and long‑term Estate Strategy.
• Lead the management of planning appeals and inquiries, including acting as an expert witness where required.
• Develop and maintain AWE's Travel Plan, identifying opportunities to enhance sustainability and site accessibility.

• Significant experience in town and country planning, estate development, infrastructure planning or consenting.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation, policy and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading complex planning applications and securing development consents.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, regulators and local authorities.
• Experience managing planning‑related risks, governance and compliance activities.
• Strong understanding of sustainability, biodiversity and environmental planning considerations.
• Ability to interpret national and local planning policy and assess its impact on business operations.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans that support long‑term organisational objectives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong leadership capability, with experience leading teams and delivering outcomes in complex organisations.

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies:
  Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE.
• The nature of our…