Senior Area Planning Manager – Lead Major Projects

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced and forward‑thinking Area Team Manager to lead a high‑performing team within our Development Management service. This is a senior, influential role where you’ll manage complex planning casework, drive service performance, and help shape the future of development across the district.

You’ll act as a case officer for major, corporately significant projects, provide expert planning advice, and deputise for the Head of Development Management when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of planning officers, ensuring high performance and effective workload management.
• Ensure all planning decisions and recommendations comply with legislation, policy, and best practice.
• Provide expert technical advice on complex planning, design, viability, environmental and conservation matters.
• Manage major and strategic planning applications from pre‑application stage through to committee reporting.
• Prepare and present reports at Planning Committee; act as main planning advisor when Head of Service is absent.
• Represent the Council as an expert witness at planning appeals, hearings, Public Inquiries and Judicial Reviews.
• Support preparation of the Planning Committee agenda with the Head of Development Management.
• Work closely with Members, partners, developers, and external agencies to facilitate high‑quality development.
• Act as a Safeguarding Ambassador, ensuring safeguarding principles are embedded in service delivery.

What Success Looks Like

• High‑performing team delivering consistently strong planning outputs.
• Decisions that are robust, defensible, and compliant with legislation.
• Effective collaboration with Members, stakeholders, and communities.
• Service performance targets met or exceeded.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Town Planning or related discipline.
• Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).

Experience:

• Proven ability to manage complex, multi‑agency planning projects.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of planning legislation, urban design, and detailed design matters.
• Excellent report writing, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team, manage caseloads, and juggle multiple workstreams.
• Political and media awareness.
• Experience in other areas of planning, e.g., Local Plan development.
• Previous team leadership or management responsibility.

#J-18808-Ljbffr…