Planning Manager

Planning Manager – Electricity Infrastructure

Location - Oxford (London Surrounding areas)

PAYE (full time)

Established in 1994, OCU Group is one of the fastest growing utility engineering contractors in the UK, with a long successful track record in delivering customer-focused civil engineering solutions.

Working directly with many of the country’s leading blue-chip power, water, telecoms and rail clients, we are looking for the very best talent to join our growing team.

We pride ourselves on empowering our employees and offering opportunities for them to take control of their own personal development and career progression in a supportive environment.

We believe that being successful is a choice.

We choose to be successful.

We are OCU, ‘One Company United’.

Are you ready to play a key role in delivering the UK’s critical electricity infrastructure
? Join a Tier 1 contractor at the forefront of powering the nation. We’re looking for a Planning Manager who thrives in dynamic construction environments and can turn planning challenges into seamless delivery.

As our Planning Manager, you’ll drive programme certainty, ensure compliance, and keep projects moving safely and efficiently
. From pre-construction through to completion, you’ll collaborate with clients, engineers, and supply chain partners to make sure planning approvals and conditions are managed with precision—and that construction keeps progressing on time.

• Lead planning delivery across multiple electricity infrastructure projects.
• Prepare, submit, and manage planning applications, approvals, and variations.
• Track and manage planning conditions, compliance activities, and construction sequencing.
• Act as the go-to expert for planning matters across project teams and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with designers, environmental specialists, and supply chains to secure high-quality submissions.
• Liaise confidently with Local Planning Authorities, statutory consultees, and landowners.
• Identify risks and implement practical mitigation strategies.
• Provide planning advice to inform construction methodology, access, and sequencing.
• Maintain accurate records, trackers, and reports to support programme governance and audit requirements.
• Support community and stakeholder engagement during construction.

• Degree in Town Planning or related discipline
• RTPI chartership (working towards or recently achieved)
• Experience in planning within contractor, consultancy, or infrastructure delivery environments
• Solid understanding of the UK planning system and construction phase compliance
• Proven track record supporting live construction projects or multiple schemes
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Highly organised, detail-focused, and solution-oriented
• Full UK driving licence
• Experience in electricity infrastructure projects (substations, overhead lines, underground cabling)
• Familiarity with Tier 1 contractor environments
• Experience managing planning conditions, CEMPs, and construction phase approvals
• Understanding of how planning links with programme, cost, and engineering delivery

• Delivery-focused and pragmatic, turning challenges into solutions
• Confident, professional, and comfortable with clients and statutory bodies
• Thrives in fast-paced, changing environments
• Collaborative, proactive, and accountable
• Committed to excellence in compliance, quality, and professionalism

This is your chance to influence the future of electricity infrastructure, work alongside industry leaders, and see your planning expertise directly impact safe, efficient, and timely construction delivery.