Development Management Team Leader (Major Developments)

Buckinghamshire Council; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career progression

Flexible working

Professional development

Leadership team

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council in High Wycombe is seeking a Development Management Team Leader to direct a team of planning officers and oversee major, high-profile proposals. You will shape outcomes through strategic negotiations, committee representation and collaboration with developers and communities.

You will drive performance, support income generation through Planning Performance Agreements and pre-application advice, and contribute to shaping Buckinghamshire's planning service for a

Qualifications

• Significant experience of managing major or complex planning applications
• Experience of leading, developing or supervising professional staff
• Excellent knowledge of planning legislation, policy and development management practice
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Experience of representing organisations at committees, hearings, inquiries or appeals
• Membership of, or eligibility for membership of, the RTPI

Responsibilities

• Leading, developing and motivating a team of planning professionals
• Managing complex, high-profile and politically sensitive planning applications and appeals
• Leading strategic negotiations with developers, agents and stakeholders
• Representing the Council at Planning Committees, hearings, inquiries and public meetings
• Advising elected members, senior officers and key stakeholders
• Driving service performance, innovation and continuous improvement
• Supporting the delivery of income-generating services, including Planning Performance Agreements and pre-application advice
• Contributing to the strategic development of Buckinghamshire's planning service
• Deputising for the Major Development Manager when required

Skills

Major development management

Team leadership

Negotiation with developers

Stakeholder management

Representing at committees/hearings

Performance improvement

Policy and legislation knowledge

Education

RTPI membership or eligibility

Job description

Location: High Wycombe

Overview

Leading a team of talented planning officers, you will oversee the delivery of some of the most significant and transformative development proposals in the county, while helping to drive service improvement, performance and professional excellence across the wider planning service.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is one of England's "Big-8" councils, delivering services across a diverse and dynamic area to the west of London.

With our Regulation 19 consultation on the Buckinghamshire Local Plan underway, we are building a planning service capable of delivering one of the most ambitious growth agendas in the country while maintaining the highest standards of design, placemaking and sustainability.

Our Major Development Management team is responsible for an exciting portfolio of development proposals, including town centre regeneration projects, strategic urban extensions, new settlements, employment development, data centres and energy infrastructure schemes. Working collaboratively with developers, communities, elected members and stakeholders, we secure high-quality development that delivers lasting benefits for Buckinghamshire's residents.

Based in High Wycombe, with excellent transport links to London, Oxford and the wider South East, you'll be working in a vibrant market town surrounded by the Chilterns National Landscape, offering an outstanding balance between career opportunities and quality of life.

About the role

As a Development Management Team Leader, you will provide leadership, direction and support to a team of professional planning officers while maintaining involvement in complex and high-profile development proposals.

You will play a key role in ensuring the service delivers excellent customer outcomes, achieves performance targets and continues to evolve in response to changing demands and opportunities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, developing and motivating a team of planning professionals
• Managing complex, high-profile and politically sensitive planning applications and appeals
• Leading strategic negotiations with developers, agents and stakeholders
• Representing the Council at Planning Committees, hearings, inquiries and public meetings
• Advising elected members, senior officers and key stakeholders
• Driving service performance, innovation and continuous improvement
• Supporting the delivery of income-generating services, including Planning Performance Agreements and pre-application advice
• Contributing to the strategic development of Buckinghamshire's planning service
• Deputising for the Major Development Manager when required

A ‘mobile’ role gives you the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common, as well as meeting your team in the office where necessary.

About you

You will be an experienced and highly credible planning professional with a strong track record of delivering complex development proposals and leading teams.

Whether you currently work in local government, consultancy or the development sector, you will bring strong leadership skills, professional expertise and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for communities. You will be comfortable operating in a complex and sometimes challenging environment, balancing competing priorities while supporting others to perform at their best.

You will bring:

• Significant experience of managing major or complex planning applications
• Experience of leading, developing or supervising professional staff
• Excellent knowledge of planning legislation, policy and development management practice
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Experience of representing organisations at committees, hearings, inquiries or appeals
• A proven ability to manage performance, resources and competing priorities
• Confidence in dealing with politically sensitive and high-profile matters
• Membership of, or eligibility for membership of, the RTPI

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

What We Offer:

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working (minimum 2 days office-based)
• The opportunity to lead and influence the delivery of major development across one of England's largest councils
• A diverse portfolio of complex, high-profile and nationally significant development proposals
• The chance to help shape the future direction of Buckinghamshire's planning service
• A supportive, collaborative and ambitious leadership team
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance

Other information

Office base: Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe

For an informal discussion, either online or in person, contact: Charles Power – 01494 421513 or email [emailprotected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.