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Young Planner Trustee

Role Description 2026

 

The role and its impact

The Board of Trustees (the Board) is responsible for setting the strategic direction and managing the affairs of the RTPI. It oversees how the RTPI is meeting its strategic objectives and delivering services of value to our members.

Our Trustees play a pivotal role right at the heart of the RTPI, bringing ideas, experience, knowledge and constructive challenge. They are collectively responsible for driving the RTPI forward, for setting and overseeing the delivery of a corporate strategy, business plan and budget that meets the Institute’s purpose and ensures an effective use of RTPI resources.

What’s involved

The Young Planner Trustee will contribute to the Board's debates, discussions and collective decision-making. Trustees will also typically join (either as Chair or as a member) at least one of the Board's sub or standing committees and report on the work of that committee to the Board at each meeting.

As a member of the Board, you will partake in oversight work, discussions and collective decision-making in areas such as, but not limited to:

Statutory responsibilities

  • Ensuring that the Institute is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.
  • Complying with the Institute’s governing document and the law
  • Acting in the Institute’s best interests
  • Managing the Institute’s resources responsibly
  • Acting with reasonable care and skill at all times

Strategy and planning

  • Shaping the corporate strategy, the business plan, and the annual budget and supporting documents such as committee work plans.
  • Ensuring the RTPI has appropriate and up-to-date polices in place on key matters such as health and safety, risk management, data protection and financial management.

Financial management

  • Reviewing and approving the RTPI’s annual report and accounts.
  • Reviewing the auditors’ report on the annual accounts.
  • Agreeing the subscription structure for the following year, subject to consultation with the General Assembly.

One Institute cohesion

  • Overseeing how the work of the Institute’s standing committees and panels, subcommittees, committees in the regions and nations and working groups contribute to the Institute’s purpose and mission.
  • Reviewing reports from the President Team, Chief Executive, volunteers, and senior staff.

As a Young Planner Trustee, you will also:

  • Chair the Young Planners Chairs group meetings (normally 3 meetings a year)
  • Communicate decisions made at Board level to the Young Planners Chairs group as appropriate.
  • Work closely with the RTPI Head of English Regions to help shape Young Planner initiatives across the UK and Ireland.
  • Work with the communications team on media opportunities to promote the Planning as a career choice.
  • Provide the Board and General Assembly with regular updates about Young Planner activity

Please note, that while Young Planner Trustee is expected to bring an awareness of the current issues facing the RTPI’s Young Planners and to share this with the Board of Trustees, the role is to act in the interests of the RTPI as a Trustee rather than to represent Young Planners.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to stand for election as the Young Planner Trustee, candidates must:

  • Be an RTPI member who, on the date of the Autumn Meeting of the General Assembly in the year of election to this post, has no more than ten years’ post qualification experience
  • Hold credibility within the profession and among external stakeholders
  • Have a strong commitment to supporting the RTPI’s strategic objectives and vision

Time commitment

Appointment as the Young Planner Trustee is for a three-year term running from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029.

The role will require preparing for and attending meetings related to your role:

  • Board meetings and training - 7 full days a year in person
  • Annual Board away day including an overnight stay - 1 day a year in person
  • General Assembly meetings - 4 full days a year in person
  • Membership of at least one Board subcommittee or Standing Committee - 4 half day meetings per year per committee, in person/online mix
  • Young Planners Chairs Panel (as Chair) - 3 half day meetings a year online
  • Occasional written correspondences or resolutions by the Board.

Trustees may also be asked to represent the Board at events as required.

About you

We are looking for individuals with the following experience and attributes:

Essential

  • A member of the Young Planners Network.
  • A clear understanding of the current issues facing the Young Planners both within the RTPI and also the wider network of those starting a career in Planning.
  • A good understanding of the Institute’s work and the key stakeholders with which it engages.
  • An ability to bring well thought-out and constructive queries and challenge to meetings
  • A team player mentality, including tolerance of the views of other people and a willingness to accept a majority decision.
  • A commitment to stay informed about the work of the Institute and to devote the necessary time to the requirements of the role.
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Impartiality, fairness, and the ability to treat sensitive information confidentially.

Advantageous

  • Experience of participating in one of the RTPI Young Planner committees
  • Previous active involvement within the Institute.
  • Experience in governance roles at other organisations

Trustees are also required to:

  • Follow the Trustee Code of Conduct and Responsibilities, Behaviours and Competences
  • Act in the interests of the RTPI, irrespective of any commitments to other organisations or groups or any personal interests.
  • Declare any potential conflicts of interest and seek advice from the Governance team, if necessary.
  • Adhere to relevant RTPI policies, procedures and behaviours.

How we will support you

Elected Trustees will be provided with:

  • An annual induction/refresher day, typically in January.
  • If new to the Board, a ‘buddy’ from current members of the Board
  • Access to online training and additional resources throughout your term.
  • A key contact for the role (see below).
  • Reimbursed reasonable expenses incurred when carrying out Institute business, in line with the expenses policy
  • Relevant organisational policies, procedures and insurance to support your role as a volunteer. Find out more in the Volunteer Handbook.

Benefits of getting involved

Becoming a Trustee of the RTPI is a chance to be part of an enthusiastic team of professionals and make a real difference to the planning profession and communities in which we live and work. During the role you will:

  • gain experience and transferable skills in strategy, business planning, investment and risk management.
  • help shape the future development of the RTPI.
  • help steer the delivery of the objectives set out in the Institute’s Corporate Strategy Empower 2030.
  • have access to professional networking.
  • expand your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio.
  • gain an understanding of the role of governance in a membership organisation.
  • learn about areas of planning outside of your expertise.

How to get involved

The Young Planner Trustee is elected by members of the General Assembly.

RTPI members will be emailed in August 2026 inviting them to apply for roles starting on 1 January 2027.

Members wishing to stand for election as Young Planner Trustees are required to complete a self-nomination form by Wednesday 16 September 2026. The form shall include a candidate statement, a headshot and the names and details of four RTPI chartered members and two RTPI student or licentiate members who support their nomination.

If there is more than one candidate for this role, nomination details for all eligible candidates for the position of Young Planner Trustee will be published on the RTPI website and on the independent election scrutineer’s voting page on 28 September 2026 and General Assembly members will be notified that voting has opened.

Elections for the Young Planner Trustee will take place based on a single transferable vote (voters rank the candidates in order of preference: 1 for their first preference, 2 for their second preference, and so forth).

Election results will be published in October 2026.

Key contact for the role

If you would like to find out more about the role of Young Planner Trustee or other roles in governance please contact governance@rtpi.org.uk

These are voluntary roles. The duties outlined reflect our shared hopes and expectations but do not create any contractual obligations. Find out more in our Volunteering Charter.