Chief Planning Officer

London Borough of Merton; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

London Borough of Merton is seeking a Chief Planning Officer to lead the planning service at the heart of how the borough grows. You will oversee development management, planning policy, enforcement and developer obligations, guiding major schemes and shaping housing growth and infrastructure benefits for residents, communities and partners.

You will be the senior professional voice on planning, advising Members and senior leaders, working with developers and communities to deliver ambitious

Job description

Merton is changing, and this is an exciting time to join us. We're looking for a new group of talented and ambitious leaders to help turn our plans into real change for residents.

Shape the future of Merton. As our Chief Planning Officer, you'll lead the service at the heart of how our borough grows - from major development and regeneration to the quality of our neighbourhoods and places. Leading around 30 staff across development management, strategic applications, planning policy, enforcement and developer obligations, you'll have the opportunity to shape major schemes, steer our planning policy and secure the infrastructure and community benefits that come with growth.

You'll be Merton's senior professional voice on planning, advising Members and senior leaders and working directly with developers, communities and partners. With major regeneration, an ambitious housing programme and significant change to the planning system ahead, this is a chance to make your mark on a borough with real ambition.

Help shape Merton's future

We've brought together housing, planning, building control, regeneration, property, FM and major projects within one Housing & Sustainable Development directorate. That gives us a real opportunity to join things up, shaping how Merton grows and develops, delivering a high-quality planning service, keeping buildings safe, making the best use of our property and assets, delivering new homes and major regeneration, and providing housing services that support residents when they need us most.

There is plenty to get stuck into. We're moving ahead with the major regeneration of Morden town centre, delivering an ambitious New Homes Programme, building our first council homes in a generation and preparing to become a stock-holding council landlord again. We are undertaking a strategic review of our property portfolio, moving to a corporate landlord model, ensuring our assets are maintained and safe, whilst delivering a range of capital projects across the estate. At the same time, we're responding to a changing national landscape for planning, building safety, housing standards, homelessness and private renting.

But this isn't just about big projects. Our Council Plan is about Building a Better Merton Together - creating a borough people are proud to call home, building a more sustainable future and making sure investment reaches the communities that need it most. For our directorate, that means more good-quality and affordable homes, better places and town centres, well-managed council assets and, above all, services that work for residents.

We're building a senior team that enjoys working across traditional service boundaries, is comfortable with ambition and complexity, and cares about getting things done. You'll have space to shape your service, work closely with colleagues and partners and influence some of the biggest decisions Merton will make over the coming years. We are three new directors building three new leadership teams. If you want real responsibility, a seat at the table, and the freedom to build services you're proud of, we want to hear from you.

A shared leadership ambition

This isn't about filling gaps. It's about building leadership teams who break down boundaries and deliver more homes, better places and services residents can trust. It's about building a team that, together, will deliver excellence

Kate Daine, Director of Housing; Kathryn Eames, Director of Regeneration & Planning; Daniel Stanesby, Director of Property & Major Projects

Merton is a compact, well-connected south London borough where senior leaders see the difference they make, fast. Join a newly created directorate being led with purpose, by directors who work together and have a clear vision for the future.

In return, we offer a Local Government Pension Scheme, hybrid working arrangements, generous annual leave and a genuine commitment to your development.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applicants who reflect the diversity of our communities.