Job Description

Carrington West are assisting their local authority client based in the Home Counties in the search for a Planning Policy Team Leader to join their Town Planning department on a 6 month rolling contract.

The main purpose of the role will require you to play a leading role in managing and supervising a team of planning policy staff through the local plan process and the creation of future policy documents, guidance notes and SPDs. Your key responsibilities will include the overseeing of officers and external consultants to deliver on policy programs alongside the maintenance of relationships with key stakeholders to ensure 'duty to cooperate'.

You will be required to allocate and delegate work streams to members of the policy team; sign off delegated reports; undertake community and stakeholder consultations; make policy comments on major planning applications; and represent the Planning Policy Team at the Member Planning Panel, Cabinet and other Councillor meetings.   

The post holder will be required to deal with a wide range of complex technical work to support the preparation of a new Local Plan as well as shaping and participating effectively in public consultation on emerging policy documents.

Main duties will include:

1)To contribute to the delivery of an efficient and effective Planning Strategy Team for the council, including engagement with developers and other key bodies in the delivery of quality developments and a robust planning policy framework

2)To assist in the Council's effective corporate governance and the formulation of corporate strategy, plans and targets; contributing to the delivery of the Council's corporate vision and strategic objectives.

3)To manage a team of policy staff to produce the Local Plans and other planning documentation from inception through to public inquiry and examination.

4)To provide creativity, knowledge and guidance in relation to all types Policy Planning tasks as necessary, in particular the most complex Policy Planning tasks including the creation of sound planning policy, presenting at Local Plan public examinations and appeal work including leading on policy input at public inquiries.

5)To project manage and/or procure technical work to provide a robust evidence base on a wide range of policy planning matters.

7)To manage the activities and performance of a variety of other staff and external consultants as required.

8)To work with the Planning Strategy Manager to provide service input into all relevant committee processes, from a team perspective, in conjunction with Democratic Services. To supervise the preparation of all relevant Committee  and Panel (including the Member Planning Panel and CIL Panel) agendas ensuring the provision of high quality reports to agreed timescales and to represent the Council at pre-Committee briefings and Committee meetings.

9)To utilise information technology to improve service delivery and to encourage staff to work innovatively to maximise resources.

(Additional responsibilities as required)

Experience in a similar position is necessary. It would be beneficial to hold a Post-graduate degree in planning, regeneration or a related discipline, and have the eligibility for membership of RTPI.

The council are looking for candidates who will be able to hit the ground running and are offering flexible working arrangements with home working provided.

Carrington West Pay Rate - Approx £70per/hour (DOE)

Job Ref - 54075

Please call Cameron de Wit on (phone number removed) for a confidential discussion on this role, or email myself or our planning team if you are short of time to chat:

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Carrington West's dedicated Town Planning Recruitment Team supply clients UK wide on both a permanent and contract basis and all levels of seniority. If this role is too senior, too junior or in a location that is unsuitable, but you are keen on options, please still feel free to apply and we can discuss other, often unadvertised roles with you