Development Management Team Leader

Maidstone Borough Council; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local governmental agency in Maidstone is looking for an experienced Development Management Team Leader to lead a team of 6-8 planning officers. This role involves managing a variety of planning applications and appeals while ensuring sound decision-making and high-quality service delivery. The successful candidate will have a degree in Town Planning and significant development management experience. This is a full-time hybrid position offering flexible working hours.

Qualifications

• Range of development management experience, including complex planning applications.
• Experience working closely with Councillors and sensitivity to political dynamics.
• Full UK Driving Licence with access to a motor vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of planning officers.
• Ensure high-quality development management service.
• Present at council’s monthly Planning Committee.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Political sensitivity

Development management experience

Education

Degree in Town Planning

Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute

Job description

Overview

About the Role: We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to join Maidstone Council as a Development Management Team Leader. This opportunity has arisen due to recent internal career progression which reflects our commitment to supporting staff growth and progression.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced individual to lead and manage a team of 6-8 planning officers with varying levels of planning experience. You will lead delivery in respect of a wide variety of different pre application advice requests, planning applications and planning appeals to ensure a high-quality development management service.

With your team you will be responsible for a wide range of work, including proposals of between 1 and 50 residential units, commercial development, HMOs, prior approval, agricultural development and equestrian development and change of use. You will ensure that planning decisions are sound in terms of policy, relevant guidance and legal framework and result in high quality sustainable development.

You will work effectively to identify and present to developers, clear solutions to planning issues. You will be decisive and where necessary, negotiate to achieve the implementation of high-quality development. You will enable applications to be advanced at an appropriate pace to build and sustain the council’s five-year land supply.

You will be effective at managing your own caseload and helping with the management of the caseload of the team. You will be effective at line management and deputising for the Planning Applications Manager including work allocation and sign off responsibilities for planning matters in line with the Head of Planning and Economic Development Scheme of Delegation.

You will present at the council’s monthly Planning Committee in terms of your own caseload and that of others in the team guiding the decision-making process. You will be the Council’s lead witness in terms of relevant appeals and ensure that the Council are represented effectively in other appeals and Court proceedings.

This is a full-time position on a permanent contract, working 37 hours a week Monday to Friday on a hybrid basis.

About Maidstone Borough Council

Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.

We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.

At Maidstone Borough Council we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.

About You

• You will have a degree in Town Planning or a Post Graduate qualification in Town Planning and be a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, or be eligible to apply for chartered status
• You will hold a Full UK Driving Licence with access to a motor vehicle to visit sites as required
• You will have a range of development management experience, including dealing with complex and sensitive planning applications and planning appeals
• You will have experience of working closely with Councillors and have political sensitivity
• You will have excellent project management and communication skills and have worked in a planning performance agreement environment

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Tony Ryan, Planning Applications Manager on 01622 602358 or [e-mail].

Interview Date: w/c 1st December 2025

Job Description and Person Specification: [not included in refined description]