Development & Conservation Manager – North Herts Council

Essex County Council; Letchworth; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Job summary

North Herts Council is seeking a Development & Conservation Manager to jointly lead planning services in a period of growth. You will oversee development management and enforcement, guiding a team of over 30 officers to deliver high‑quality development across North Hertfordshire.

Team leadership, strategic delivery and professional advice to elected members and communities are key aspects. The role includes a flexible retirement arrangement and hybrid working options in Letchworth Garden City.

Qualifications

• Experienced planning professional with strong development management knowledge and the ability to lead and inspire people, manage projects and support complex decision-making.
• Substantial experience in development management within a local authority or similar environment.
• Able to provide clear professional advice to elected members, senior officers, applicants and communities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development management, planning enforcement, technical support and specialist functions.
• Lead a team of over 30 officers to deliver high‑quality development across North Hertfordshire.
• Shape and manage a range of schemes from small to large, with significant growth and complexity.
• Provide mentoring, knowledge sharing and support within the management team.

Skills

Development management

Leadership

RTPI membership

Staff management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Job description

Development & Conservation Manager – North Herts Council

North Herts Council

Permanent, Full Time

£56,359 - £65,907 dependent on experience, plus £3,000 car allowance

Location: Letchworth Garden City

Closing Date: 11th November 2026

The Role

Are you looking for your next step in planning leadership? This is an exciting opportunity to jointly deliver one of the Council's key planning services at a time of significant growth and change. As one of two co‑managers, you’ll oversee development management, planning enforcement, technical support and specialist functions, delivered by a skilled and experienced team of more than 30 officers. You will help shape high‑quality development across North Hertfordshire. This encompasses schemes of all scales across approximately 2,500 applications, pre‑apps, enquiries and other works each year. The role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on professional involvement in some of the district’s most complex and high‑profile planning matters.

Importantly, you’ll join an experienced and supportive management team. Our existing manager is moving into flexible retirement, remaining with the service on a part‑time basis. This provides a unique opportunity for distribution of responsibilities between the two posts, mentoring, knowledge sharing and support while increasing our overall management capacity.

Whether you are already managing a planning service or are an exceptional Principal Planner or Team Leader ready to take the next step, this role offers a superb opportunity.

We would particularly like to encourage applications from female leaders and individuals from an ethnic minority background.

The Experience You Will Bring

You will be an experienced planning professional with a strong understanding of development management and the ability to lead and inspire people, manage projects and support complex decision‑making.

• Have substantial experience in development management within a local authority or similar environment.
• Be eligible for membership of, or a member of, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
• Have experience of managing complex and significant planning applications and balancing competing priorities.
• Be confident providing clear professional advice to elected members, senior officers, applicants and communities.
• Have experience of leading, supervising or developing planning staff and creating a positive, high‑performing culture.
• Understand the importance of service performance, customer focus and continuous improvement.
• Have knowledge of planning enforcement, appeals and wider development management legislation and practice.
• Be an excellent communicator who can build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Most importantly, you'll bring sound professional judgement, a collaborative leadership style and a desire to help shape and improve a modern planning service.

About Us

North Hertfordshire is a large rural district with approximately 125,000 residents with four historic towns, Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and Letchworth Garden City. The Council have four priorities: Thriving Communities, Accessible Services, Responsible Growth and Sustainability. The Council Plan sets out our key priorities and themes for the next five years. The North Herts Values define how we as colleagues work with each other, and we strive to be: Adaptable, Inclusive, Learning, Listening, Together.

Why work with us?

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in our recruitment practices and in our employment policies. We want our employees to feel safe to express themselves and we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of talents. We are dedicated to promoting a healthy work/life balance, valuing our employees, and enabling them to make a difference to the local community.

At North Herts Council we are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and we guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum requirements for the job.

Please note that all our vacancies require you to live and work in the UK, and selection interviews are face‑to‑face in our Letchworth offices or other nearby council sites.

We are changing

North Herts Council (NHC) is due to be undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) which is one of the biggest changes in local government we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better.

To find out more, visit Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation | North Herts Council

If you would like an informal chat about the post, you can contact Nigel Smith, Director: Place, [e-mail] or on 01462 474847

We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for employment in the UK.

Hybrid working

Flexibility with homeworking and office‑based days

Working pattern

This job is open to flexible working patterns and working hour

Applications will close at midnight on 11th November 2026 Face to face interviews will be held on 24th-25th November 2026

Please note that this vacancy is a senior manager reporting to Director and is designated a Deputy Chief Officer role. Appointment is subject to approval by Cabinet, following the selection process.

We recommend downloading the job profile document as this will not be available once the vacancy closes.