Description
Development Management Team Leader wanted for a local autority within the Housing and Planning department
Reporting in to the Service Manager, Development Management & Building Control
Based in the North West, Hybrid working 2-3 days in the office.
The Development Management service plays a key role in the delivery of growth across the borough, facilitating delivery of the aspirations and objectives set out in the adopted Local Plan Core Strategy, through providing employment and housing land, protecting the Borough's built and environmental assets to promote the area as a key location for future growth. You will be part of the Development Management team working to the Service Manager as part of a wider Development Management and Building Control service.
Your primary role will be to line manage, mentor and develop a team of professional planning, enforcement staff and technical support staff in order to deliver a high level of performance with robust and consistent decisions. You will review and update business processes as necessary, identifying and acting on potential efficiencies and better ways of working.
Job specification
Provide effective leadership to the Development Management Planning team to deliver our change agenda to provide an effective service which is flexible, responsive and high performing. Work with the Service Manager to ensure that effective and robust policies and procedures are in place for both Development Management and Planning Enforcement. Work with colleagues and partners to ensure that Development Management effectively supports regeneration, investment and the delivery of housing, employment and commercial developments by ensuring that pre-application enquiries are dealt with efficiently and all applications are processed in a timely manner adopting project management principles. Ensure the service is adequately resourced to achieve all appropriate performance targets.Ensure that complaints and enquiries regarding the service provided are investigated in a timely and professional manner through effective service processes and procedures.Work with the Service Manager to undertake the strategic development of all aspects of the Development Management Service and contribute to the development and implementation of the Service Improvement Plan. Ensure you operate within GDPR guidelines by regularly reviewing data held and destroying information in line with retention schedules
In this job you will need
You must be able to demonstrate the following essential requirements:-
A degree or equivalent in town planning and be a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Significant experience in dealing with a range of highly complex major Planning Applications, Prior Approval Notifications, Planning Appeals, Non-Material Amendment Applications and applications to Discharge Planning Conditions, providing robust decisions in accordance with statutory timescales.
Experience of achieving good outcomes through the management and either supervision or mentoring of professional staff.
Experience of managing performance and embedding best practice in a busy Development Management service, and the ability to develop and implement a service improvement plan, including contributing towards Planning Committee training to deliver this agenda
A high level of awareness of the commercial issues relating to planning and development, and experience of dealing with complex commercial and development funding issues through the planning process
Experience of problem solving in a planning and development context, using the planning system and influencing stakeholders to secure outcomes that align with the Council's policies and objectives
Excellent communication skills, in written, spoken, graphic and multi-media forms, including the ability to write clear and concise reports on highly complex matters, presenting highly complex planning applications at Planning Committee in a public domain and an ability to appear as expert witness at a Public Inquiry.
The ability to work well in partnership and collaboratively with other disciplines, both within and outside the council, and to adopt a project management role in the co-ordination of inputs into planning applications in order for a clear communication channel to be established with applicants and their agents.
An appreciation of and respect for the political dimensions in planning and local government and experience of managing these in the context of development proposals.
An ability to manage a heavy workload under pressure and meet competing deadlines, self-organised and able to work well alone and make decisions on complex tasks with minimum supervision