Area Development Manager, (Development Management)

Colchester Borough Council; Braintree; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working arrangements

Local government pension scheme

Learning and development for all

Employee discounts

Employee recognition schemes

Health and wellbeing programmes

Job summary

Braintree District Council is hiring an Area Development Manager for the Planning team based in Braintree, Essex. The successful candidate will lead a team of 4–5 Planning Officers, sign off delegated decisions, and help deliver a high-quality Development Management service for the district.

We are looking for an experienced Town Planner with RTPI membership or eligibility, strong leadership, and a proactive approach to deliver growth and excellent customer service while embracing continuous

Qualifications

• Extensive planning knowledge and experience in Development Management.
• Strong leadership and people management abilities.
• Excellent communication, report writing and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of 4–5 Planning Officers.
• Sign off Delegated Decisions for an Area team and monitor performance.
• Deliver excellent customer service and drive service improvements.

Skills

Planning knowledge

Leadership

Analytical

Communication

Report writing

Customer service

Education

RTPI membership eligibility

Job description

Salary £55,965 to £60,102 per annum, (Inclusive of Market Supplement)

Job profile for Area Development Manager, (Development Management)

Area Development Manager, (Development Management)

Braintree 13/09/2026

The job requirements are detailed below. Further information can be found in the link in the Job Details section below.If you have auto-fill set up on your device we recommend turning this off before completing your application form. We are aware that users of Apple devices may have difficulties submitting application forms using the Safari browser. We recommend using Google Chrome as your browser if using Apple devices.

Job details

Salary £55,965 to £60,102 per annum, (Inclusive of Market Supplement) Contractual hours 37 Job category/type Permanent - Full Time Date posted 19/08/2026 Job reference BREQ0470

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an Area Development Manager to join our Planning team based in Braintree, Essex.

Are you an experienced Town Planner looking to take a step into management or an existing manager looking for a new challenge? Then you may be the Area Development Manager we need to lead a team and provide an effective Development Management Service for an area of the district.

This is an exciting time to work for Braintree. The district will grow significantly in the coming years, and we are looking to embrace this challenge to deliver well-designed new homes, jobs and the infrastructure required to support this growth, whilst being careful to preserve the character and quality of the district.

About the Role

This is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic and ambitious Planning service. As an Area Development Manager, you will have the skills to lead, coach, and mentor a team of 4-5 professional Planning Officers.

This is a pivotal role within the team, being responsible for signing off Delegated Decisions for one of the Area teams, managing and monitoring team performance, ensuring the delivery of excellent customer service, and being the Lead Officer at Planning Committee. In addition, you will play an active role in ensuring continuous improvement and that service transformation is embedded effectively.

What we’re looking for

The successful candidate will have extensive planning knowledge and experience of working within a Development Management team. You will have a strong proactive work ethic, analytical in your approach, with excellent communication, report writing, and customer service skills, as well as the necessary motivation to deliver high performance and the ability to work accurately and to tight deadlines. If you are hardworking, ambitious, dynamic, and commercially aware, we want to hear from you.

You will need to be a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or be eligible for membership. If you have previous management experience, it would be a bonus.

If you would like an informal chat about the above role please call Christopher Paggi, Planning Development Manager on [phone].

For more information, please see the Job Profile .

Why choose Braintree District Council?

Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the district located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community.

Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach, which is led by our employees, and are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Our people see the difference they make and how the work they do actively contributes to and encourages positive change in the local community.

We also offer some great benefits, including:

• Flexible working
• Hybrid working arrangements are available in this role (home/office based) subject to business need
• Local government pension scheme
• Learning and development for all employees
• Employee discounts at local businesses
• Employee recognition schemes
• Extensive health and wellbeing programmes, including discounted gym membership

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Find out more at https://localcounciljobs.gov.uk.

The closing date for this opportunity is midnight on Sunday 13th September 2026.

Interviews will be held w/c 21st September 2026.