Development Management Team Leader

Wigan Council; Wigan; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Wigan Council is seeking an experienced planning leader to head Development Management, securing investment and delivering sustainable development for the borough. You will lead a multi-disciplinary team of planning and enforcement officers, work with developers and elected members, and oversee high-profile projects to ensure quality outcomes for communities.

This role requires commercial awareness, sound judgement, and a collaborative approach to shape opportunities and deliver impactful growth

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary team of planning and enforcement officers, technical support staff, and specialists in conservation and trees and woodlands, overseeing performance and service delivery.
• Oversee complex and high-profile development projects, managing relationships with developers and working with elected members and partners to secure high-quality, sustainable outcomes.
• Provide clear advice on complex and sensitive planning matters to residents, developers, colleagues and elected members, supporting policy delivery and delivery of growth assets.

Job description

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Wigan Life Centre South / Remote / Site / Home

Salary: Grade 12, £55,224 - £59,273 per annum.

37 hours per week

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Your role:

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role within Wigan Council’s Development Management service, helping to secure the right investment for the borough and deliver high-quality, sustainable development and growth that benefits our communities.

You will lead, support and develop a multi-disciplinary team of planning and enforcement officers, technical support staff, and specialist conservation and trees and woodlands officers, overseeing performance and service delivery.

You will also oversee some of the borough’s most complex and high-\u2011profile development projects, managing relationships with developers and working closely with elected members and partners to secure high-quality, sustainable outcomes for our communities.

About you:

You will be an experienced, commercially aware planner and an effective leader who can inspire colleagues, manage competing priorities and deliver a responsive, high-\u2011performing service. You will bring sound professional judgement, a collaborative approach and a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved in delivering sustainable development.

An excellent communicator, you will be confident building positive relationships and providing clear advice on complex and sensitive matters to residents, developers, colleagues and elected members. You will be enthusiastic about using planning positively to secure the right growth and help Wigan’s towns and neighbourhoods flourish.

About us:

Wigan Council is an ambitious and progressive authority that values its people and the contribution they make. Guided by our Progress with Unity missions, we are working with residents, businesses and partners to create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses, and to help all our towns and communities flourish.

You will join a supportive and experienced service, with the opportunity to influence major developments, shape service improvement and make a visible contribution to the borough’s future. We offer flexible working arrangements, opportunities for professional development and a role in which your leadership, ideas and planning expertise can make a genuine difference.

The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.

Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits to find out more about working for #TeamWigan.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK, and you must maintain a valid (active) right to work. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Prove your right to work to an employer

Wigan Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. As part of this commitment, Wigan Council operates robust Safer Recruitment procedures

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Gareth Jones, Service Manager for Development Management and Building Control, at [e-mail] to arrange a call.

Interview date: Week Commencing 26th October 2026

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below

Supporting Documents

• Job Specification


• Privacy Notice


• Safer Recruitment at Wigan Council


• Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach