Head of Major Applications, Delivery & Environment

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Public pension scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounts (Cafés, restaurants, shops)

Costco membership opportunity

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is recruiting a Head of Major Applications, Delivery & Environment to lead a high-profile planning, development and environmental delivery service. You will shape strategy, oversee major applications, infrastructure delivery and highways development management, and influence outcomes across the county.

This politically restricted post requires robust leadership, strategic vision and the credibility to work with senior stakeholders, elected members and external partners.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing planning services within a large, complex organisation.
• Extensive knowledge of planning legislation, policy and industry challenges.
• Proven track record delivering major planning applications, infrastructure projects and development programmes.
• Strong leadership including managing multidisciplinary teams and driving high performance.
• Experience leading complex organisational change and service transformation.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate confidently within a political environment and advise on contentious planning matters.
• Experience managing significant budgets, resources and risk.
• Collaborative approach delivering customer-focused and sustainable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Providing strategic direction and leadership for major planning and infrastructure services.
• Leading the delivery of complex and high-profile development projects.
• Developing and implementing service strategies and policies aligned with corporate priorities.
• Advising senior leaders, elected members and stakeholders on planning, environmental and development matters.
• Leading service improvement, transformation and organisational change programmes.
• Managing significant budgets and ensuring effective use of resources and value for money.
• Identifying opportunities to maximise income, secure external funding and improve service delivery.
• Managing political, financial, reputational and operational risks across the service.
• Building strong partnerships with developers, government bodies, communities and strategic partners.
• Embedding a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Policy and planning knowledge

Project and programme delivery

Change management

Budget and resource management

Political acumen

Collaborative working

Education

Degree in planning or equivalent

Professional body membership eligibility

Postgraduate qualification advantageous

Job description

Reporting to the Service Director, Planning & Environment, you'll set the direction for a broad portfolio spanning Natural & Built Environment, Highways Development Management and Majors Development Management. With responsibility for a £4.9 million budget and a service of approximately 100 colleagues, you'll combine strategic leadership with the judgement to make significant operational decisions. This is an opportunity to set the strategic direction for the service and to connect specialist expertise, translate priorities into practical action and build a culture where people and services continuously improve. To ensure services are delivering excellent outcomes for residents, businesses and stakeholders. You will be responsible for leading services across:

• Major Development Management
• Highways Development Management
• Natural & Built Environment
• Infrastructure Delivery and Strategic Planning Functions

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic direction and leadership for major planning and infrastructure services.
• Leading the delivery of complex and high-profile development projects.
• Developing and implementing service strategies and policies aligned with corporate priorities.
• Advising senior leaders, elected members and stakeholders on planning, environmental and development matters.
• Leading service improvement, transformation and organisational change programmes.
• Managing significant budgets and ensuring effective use of resources and value for money.
• Identifying opportunities to maximise income, secure external funding and improve service delivery.
• Managing political, financial, reputational and operational risks across the service.
• Building strong partnerships with developers, government bodies, communities and strategic partners.
• Embedding a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

About the role

This is a leadership role with significant influence, responsibility and visibility across the organisation and wider region.

Are you an experienced planning leader ready to influence the future growth, infrastructure and environmental outcomes of one of the country's most ambitious local authorities? We're looking for an inspirational and commercially aware planning professional with extensive experience leading large-scale planning, development or environmental services within a complex organisation. You will bring both strategic vision and operational excellence, with the credibility to influence senior stakeholders, elected members and external partners in a politically sensitive environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Significant experience managing planning services or a similar professional discipline within a large, complex organisation.
• Extensive knowledge of planning legislation, policy, procedures and industry challenges.
• A proven track record of delivering major planning applications, infrastructure projects and development programmes.
• Strong leadership experience, including managing multidisciplinary teams and driving high performance.
• Experience leading complex organisational change and service transformation.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to operate confidently within a political environment and provide expert advice on complex or contentious planning matters.
• Experience managing significant budgets, resources and risk.
• A collaborative approach with a focus on delivering customer-focused and sustainable outcomes.

You'll be educated to degree level (or equivalent) as a qualified planner and hold membership, or eligibility for membership, of a relevant professional body. A postgraduate qualification would be advantageous. 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.

Additional Information

This is a politically restricted post. A full driving licence is required. Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. 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 have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Major Applications, Delivery & Environment to lead a high-profile service at the forefront of planning, development and environmental delivery. This is a strategic leadership role where you'll oversee major planning applications, infrastructure delivery, environmental services and highways development management, helping to shape places, communities and sustainable growth for years to come.

Salary and Benefits

Salary Up to £90,500

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 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
• 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.

Equality and Diversity

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.