Assistant Director - Planning and Implementation

Osborne Richardson; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional local authority in Essex is seeking an experienced Assistant Director - Planning and Implementation for a 3-month contract. This high-profile leadership role involves overseeing teams, delivering efficient services, and engaging with council members. Candidates must have experience at a similar level in local authorities and hold membership in the Royal Town Planning Institute. The role offers up to £800/day with hybrid working, requiring office presence two days a week.

Qualifications

• Experience as an Assistant Director or Director level in a UK local authority.
• Demonstrable strategic level management experience.
• Previous experience managing large teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership managing a team responsible for council strategy and policy delivery.
• Engage with Members for sound relationships and respond to issues.
• Enable collaboration across the Council to achieve strategic priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Public sector experience

Urban design

Development management

Education

Membership of Royal Town Planning Institute

Job description

Overview

Our client is a prominent Local Authority based in Essex, and they are seeking an experienced Assistant Director - Planning and Implementation - to join them for a contract role.

Our client requires an exceptional individual to provide strategic leadership and drive excellence across their Planning and Building Control services. This is a high-profile leadership role, shaping the boroughs built environment and ensuring that they deliver on their ambitions for sustainable growth, high-quality urban design, and resident-focused service delivery.

Role and Responsibilities

Our client is looking for someone with extensive public sector experience to oversee teams of up to 38 professionals. This strategic leadership role is an integral part of the senior leadership team, has Chief Planning Officer responsibility and constitutional delegated authority for all the following functions delivered by two operational Heads of Service:

• Development Management
• Enforcement & Building Control
• Planning Policy & Local Development Plan
• National Strategic Infrastructure projects (NSIPS)
• Land Charges

Key Responsibilities

• To provide strategic leadership and managing a team of multi-skilled staff who are responsible for the development of council strategy and policy delivery, including Planning Policy, Enforcement, Conservation and Heritage, Building Control, Development Management and Technical Support
• To own, develop and oversee the council’s policies in key areas, solve problems and delivers an efficient customer-focused service with high standards of professionalism
• To be a trusted point of contact for engagement with Members to ensure sound relationships and prompt responses to issues and queries raised
• To ensure effective cross Council working to enable strategic achievement and enabling collaboration, innovation and engagement and delivery of Council priorities

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants for this post must recently have held a similar Assistant Director / Director level position in this field with a UK local authority and hold a membership of Royal Town Planning Institute. Expertise in town planning, urban design, and development management within an urban context. You must have demonstrable experience of working at a strategic level and previous experience of managing a large team.

Our client isn’t able to consider candidates who are looking to step up into an Assistant Director level role, they need someone who has already worked at this level for a local authority.

Contract and Logistics

The post will initially be offered for 3 months and the rate offered is up to £800/day Umbrella. This role is inside IR35.

Our client offers hybrid working, you will be based in the office 2 days a week.

Please get in touch for further details.