Head of Planning (I)

Job Description

Job Category: Interims 8hr Day Rates
Location: Lewes and Eastbourne Council, Lewes and Eastbourne Councils
Hours Per Week: 37.00
Start Date: Immediate Start
Start Time: 09:00
End Time: 17:00
Salary: £28.65

It is an exciting time to be joining our planning team. As Head of Planning, the successful candidate will play a central role in leading our team of planning and building regulations professionals.
The Planning First service area is a joint Development Management and Planning Policy team which covers the councils’ Local Planning Authority areas.

We are seeking an individual who is looking to grow with the organisation and provide innovative insights to achieving excellent performance within the service and deliver continued improvement through our transformation process, and beyond.

As Head of Planning, you will be responsible for:
• Leading the planning service
• Ensuring planning supports the strategic place shaping agenda.
• Evaluation, negotiation, recommendation of applications
• Ability to work with landowners and developers on ensuring high quality sustainable schemes are delivered.
• Leading the Planning Policy formulation
• Briefing committees and Council Members as well as representing the Council at appeals, hearings, and public inquiries.
• Leading planning service improvements and projects
• Assisting with recruiting and developing a well-functioning planning team and managing the team’s workloads, finances, and budgets.

To succeed as Head of Planning you must be competent in a variety of IT systems and packages. You will communicate with customers, colleagues, and managers of different social, economic, and professional backgrounds via face-to-face, email and telephone. You must also have:
• A recognised planning qualification.
• Full RTPI Membership.
• Aptitude for progressing applications and development projects.
• Aptitude for Planning Policy formulation.
• Management and supervisory experience.
• High level communication and presentation skills including clear, concise reporting and correspondence particularly concerning complex or controversial issues.
• A working understanding of The Building Regulations.

Job Purpose:
• To lead the process for development of the Local Plans, including commissioning of and support for specialists, and focusing on meeting the needs of customers, residents and Members through a consistent and robust evidence-based approach.
• To hold a unifying accountability over all aspects of planning strategy, policy and delivery, working closely with Head of Case and Specialist Services to ensure close alignment across planning policy and case work ensuring seamless end to end customer service.
• To oversee the planning functions for the two councils working with the Director of Planning and Regeneration and development partners in delivering our regeneration ambitions across the two authorities.
• To work closely with the South Downs National Park to ensure two planning authorities for Lewes work well together in terms of delivering spatial and economic development priorities of the local areas.
• To provide specialist expertise as required to meet the needs of the Planning Committee, especially around contentious cases.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Essential:
• Qualification at degree level or above in town planning or similar.
• Full corporate membership of RTPI

Desirable:
• Evidence of on going management training and development

TRAINING:
Essential:
• Management principles and practices

Desirable:
• Coaching
• Project Management

SKILLS and ABILITIES:
Essential:
• Excellent communication skills.
• High level of financial planning and budget management acumen.
• Commissioning – demonstrable ability to determine the most appropriate provision in order to deliver and improve service outcomes in the most efficient, effective, equitable and sustainable way.
• Able to ensure that services are delivered in an efficient and cost effective manner that delivers maximum value for money and reduce the need for subsidising the planning budget.
• Able to prioritise effectively.
• Ability to work directly with elected Members on a regular basis, providing professional advice on sensitive matters related to planning and development
• The ability to impact and influence – influences stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes and drive positive change.
• Excellent relationship building and partnership working skills.
• Attuned to the formal and informal structures, organisational culture and politics of the council and partner organisations.
• Able to promote trust, purpose and collaboration internally and with key external partners providing effective community leadership.
• The drive to improve performance for internal and external customers and improve service users’ quality of life.
• Able to identify and implement better outcomes and processes.
• Able to engage and help others to achieve improvements.

KNOWLEDGE:
Essential:
• Excellent understanding of Planning policy context and recent legislatives changes and implications for councils
• Excellent understanding of development management and building control policy and practice
• Knowledge of council structures and skills in working effectively with operational and strategic managers and elected members.
• Experience of working with local partners including county councils and other districts and boroughs to meet our corporate priorities.
• Detailed knowledge of local government services and structures.

Desirable:
• Experience of working with South Downs National Park

EXPERIENCE:
Essential:
• Experience of leading and managing professional planning staff at a senior management level in a local planning authority.
• Experience of working in a political context and able to build and maintain relationships with elected members, senior officers, staff and partners.
• Experience of evaluating and appraising programmes and services.
• Experience of successfully identifying and implementing changes to services to improve delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Proven track record of budget and people management experience.

PHYSICAL, LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Essential:
• Willingness to work within the councils’ Management and Core competency frameworks
• An engaging, enthusiastic and positive manner with a strong “can do” approach
• Able to attend evening meetings, often at short notice.