Planning & Development Director

Lighthouse (part of Neo Environmental) is seeking an ambitious and influential Technical Director - Planning to lead the growth and development of our Planning business across Scotland.

This is a rare opportunity for an established planning professional with a strong industry reputation, extensive sector experience, and a proven ability to win and deliver work. The successful candidate will play a strategic leadership role in building and growing a planning consultancy business with a particular focus on the renewable energy sector, including onshore wind development.

The appointment forms a key part of Origin Environmental's growth strategy. We are investing in the expansion of our Planning service and are seeking an individual capable of developing new opportunities, strengthening client relationships, and establishing a high-performing team to support long-term growth.

As the business develops, the Technical Director will help shape the structure of the Planning team, ensuring the right resource is in place to deliver projects efficiently whilst maintaining a strong focus on business development and client engagement.

The Role

Reporting to the senior leadership team, you will provide technical, commercial and operational leadership for the Scottish Planning business.

You will lead major planning projects, develop client relationships, identify and secure new opportunities, and help establish a profitable and sustainable planning consultancy service.

This role combines technical excellence with strategic business leadership and would suit someone looking to leave a lasting mark on the growth of a planning business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic growth of Lighthouse/Neo Environmental's Planning business in Scotland.
• Develop and implement a business plan to support the expansion of the planning team and service offering.
• Drive business development activity and secure new work across key sectors, particularly renewable energy and onshore wind.
• Act as Project Lead and Project Director on major planning applications.
• Lead TCPA and DNS planning applications from inception through to determination.
• Develop planning strategies for complex development proposals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with developers, landowners, stakeholders, planning authorities and industry contacts.
• Lead client meetings, planning authority discussions and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Attend networking events, industry conferences and community engagement events to promote the business.
• Manage and mentor planning professionals at varying levels within the team.
• Delegate work effectively and oversee project delivery to ensure quality, programme and budget objectives are achieved.
• Contribute to wider business strategy and collaboration across Origin Environmental's multidisciplinary teams.

About You

We are looking for a commercially focused planning professional with the technical expertise, credibility and network to help grow and lead our Scottish Planning business.

You will ideally have:

• MRTPI Chartered Planner status.
• Significant planning consultancy experience, ideally at Associate Director, Technical Director or Director level.
• Extensive experience leading and managing major planning applications.
• A comprehensive understanding of the Scottish planning system.
• Strong experience within the renewable energy sector, particularly onshore wind development.
• An established network of contacts across the Scottish planning and development market.
• A proven track record of winning work and developing client relationships.
• Experience managing teams and mentoring planning professionals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and business development capability.
• The ability to work independently whilst contributing to wider business objectives.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you will:

• Establish Lighthouse/Neo Environmental as a recognised planning consultancy within the Scottish market.
• Build a sustainable pipeline of planning projects and long-term client relationships.
• Grow the Planning team in line with business demand.
• Deliver profitable and high-quality planning services.
• Develop a strong presence in the renewable energy planning sector, particularly onshore wind.

If you are an experienced planning professional with the vision, technical expertise and commercial drive to lead the growth of our Scottish Planning business, we'd love to hear from you.