Development Management Team Leader - Permanent

Carrington West; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme (LGPS)

Car allowance

Free parking

Generous holiday entitlement

Staff events and wellbeing support

Life assurance and financialProtection

Job summary

Maidstone Borough Council is seeking an experienced Development Management Team Leader to oversee a team of 6-8 Planning Officers and deliver a high-quality planning service. You will manage pre-application advice, applications, appeals and a varied caseload including residential, commercial and HMOs in a hybrid role.

The role requires strong leadership, policy knowledge, political sensitivity and excellent project management and communication skills to support housing delivery and development

Qualifications

• A degree in Town Planning or postgraduate Town Planning qualification with RTPI eligibility or chartered status.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for site visits.
• Strong Development Management experience with complex planning applications and appeals.
• Experience working with Councillors and understanding political sensitivity.
• Excellent project management and communication skills in a PPA environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of 6-8 Planning Officers across experience levels.
• Oversee high-quality Development Management service including pre-app advice, applications and appeals.
• Manage varied caseloads: residential up to 50 units, commercial, HMOs, prior approvals, agricultural and changes of use.
• Provide practical planning solutions and negotiate outcomes with developers and stakeholders.
• Deputise for Planning Applications Manager including work allocation and sign-off.
• Represent the Council at Planning Committee and lead witnesses in relevant appeals.

Skills

Town Planning

Project Management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Town Planning degree

RTPI membership / chartered status

Tools

Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) environment

Job description

Development Management Team Leader

Full-Time Permanent Role - 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Salary: £50,515 - £55,202 per annum (Grade12)

Plus £5,000 market supplement and £1,000 essential car user allowance

Maidstone Borough Council is an ambitious and forward-thinking organisation, committed to delivering high-quality services for residents and local businesses. We are focused on making the borough an attractive place to live, work and invest, while building on our strengths, expertise and track record of innovation to create a sustainable future.

We recognise that our success is driven by the talent and dedication of our people. You will be supported with training, development opportunities and a positive working environment where your ideas and contributions are valued. We encourage our teams to embrace new ways of working and help shape continuous improvement across the organisation.

BENEFITS

• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities (minimum one day in the office with additional days subject to needs of the service such as face-to-face pre application and team meetings and Planning Committee).
• RTPI membership fee paid for by the Council.
• Pension Scheme (LGPS) 16.6% contribution from the Council/employer! (Salary and market supplement is pensionable, however the car allowance is not)
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles.
• WFH equipment can be provided upon request, including IT equipment, chairs and headsets.
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New Year.
• Free parking.
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people's home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors.
• Life Assurance (3 times salary for members of the LGPS) and financial protection for your family.
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
• Annual flu vaccine.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping.
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals.

ABOUT THE ROLE - DM Team Leader

This role has become available due to recent internal progression, reflecting the Council's commitment to supporting staff development and career growth.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced planning professional to lead and manage a team of 6-8 Planning Officers across a range of experience levels. You will oversee the delivery of a high-quality Development Management service, including pre-application advice, planning applications and appeals.

Working alongside your team, you will manage a varied caseload including residential schemes of up to 50 units, commercial development, HMOs, prior approvals, agricultural and equestrian development, and changes of use. You will ensure decisions are robust, policy compliant and support the delivery of sustainable development.

You will provide clear and practical solutions to planning issues, working collaboratively with developers and stakeholders to negotiate positive outcomes. You will help ensure applications progress efficiently and support the Council's five-year housing land supply.

The role will involve managing your own caseload, supporting the wider team workload, line management responsibilities, and deputising for the Planning Applications Manager, including work allocation and decision sign-off in line with the Council's Scheme of Delegation.

You will represent the Council at Planning Committee, act as a lead witness on relevant appeals, and ensure the Council is effectively represented in appeal and legal proceedings.

ABOUT YOU

• A degree in Town Planning or a Postgraduate qualification in Town Planning, with Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or eligibility to apply for chartered status.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle to undertake site visits as required.
• Strong Development Management experience, including managing complex and sensitive planning applications and appeals.
• Experience of working closely with Councillors, with a strong understanding of political sensitivity.
• Excellent project management and communication skills, with experience of working within a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) environment.

A full JD can be provided upon request.

Interviews will take place on Friday 9 October and consist of a test and an interview, held in person in Maidstone BC Council Offices.

Applications will be considered up to and including Friday 25th September.