Development Management Team Leader (Major Developments)

As a Development Management Team Leader , you will provide leadership, direction and support to a team of professional planning officers while maintaining involvement in complex and high-profile development proposals.

You will play a key role in ensuring the service delivers excellent customer outcomes, achieves performance targets and continues to evolve in response to changing demands and opportunities.

Key responsibilities include:

· Leading, developing and motivating a team of planning professionals

· Managing complex, high-profile and politically sensitive planning applications and appeals

· Leading strategic negotiations with developers, agents and stakeholders

· Representing the Council at Planning Committees, hearings, inquiries and public meetings

· Advising elected members, senior officers and key stakeholders

· Driving service performance, innovation and continuous improvement

· Supporting the delivery of income-generating services, including Planning Performance Agreements and pre-application advice

· Contributing to the strategic development of Buckinghamshire's planning service

· Deputising for the Major Development Manager when required

Mobile:

A ‘mobile’ role gives you the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common, as well as meeting your team in the office where necessary.

You will be an experienced and highly credible planning professional with a strong track record of delivering complex development proposals and leading teams.

Whether you currently work in local government, consultancy or the development sector, you will bring strong leadership skills, professional expertise and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for communities. You will be comfortable operating in a complex and sometimes challenging environment, balancing competing priorities while supporting others to perform at their best.

Significant experience of managing major or complex planning applications

Experience of leading, developing or supervising professional staff

Excellent knowledge of planning legislation, policy and development management practice

Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills

Experience of representing organisations at committees, hearings, inquiries or appeals

A proven ability to manage performance, resources and competing priorities

Confidence in dealing with politically sensitive and high-profile matters

Membership of, or eligibility for membership of, the RTPI

Office base: Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

the chance to really make a difference to those around you

health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops

a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group

ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us

opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/