Head of Planning and Building Control

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; England; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England seeks a Head of Planning and Building Control to lead development policy and manage planning functions for community-centric projects. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in local government and strong stakeholder management skills to foster partnerships and ensure effective infrastructure development. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape planning and development in Sutton with significant investment in the area.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in local government planning.
• Proven ability to manage complex planning processes.
• Strong understanding of community concerns in development.

Responsibilities

• Drive high quality development management.
• Lead development of planning policy and strategies.
• Provide strategic management of planning functions.
• Advise senior leadership and elected members.
• Collaborate with South London partners on investment needs.

Skills

Stakeholder management skills

Leadership

Collaborative approach

Job description

Head of Planning and Building Control

As the council's most senior planning officer, you will be a collaborative and effective leader with a proactive approach to development. With strong stakeholder management skills, you will build effective and professional working relationships with both developers and investors, whilst engaging with elected members and senior officers across the council. As a team player and a seasoned planning officer in local government, you will provide expert advice to senior stakeholders at Sutton whilst ensuring community is at the heart of development within the borough.

Sutton has a reputation for excellent schools, Green Flag award‑winning green and leafy open spaces, and an industrial heritage along the River Wandle. Sutton is home to the London Cancer Hub, Europe's leading cancer research and treatment district, with further plans for a multi‑phase life science district. Over the past few years, the council has built a significant number of homes for the borough's residents and invested in significant high street regeneration.

It is an exciting time to be joining Sutton, with £4bn of planned investment and another £3bn in the pipeline. This is a hugely varied role and your opportunity to shape the place Sutton becomes.

You’ll be proactive in your approach to development. You’ll be comfortable working closely and professionally with developers and investors; build strong relationships with elected members and senior officers; and you’ll put the concerns of the community at the heart of development decisions - including the provision of infrastructure. Sutton has long had high standards for the development we expect, and you’ll ensure these are achieved whilst providing an efficient, highly regarded planning service.

This is a role for a collaborator, who is an effective leader of your staff, and a team player across the Council. You’ll be experienced at working in a local authority, and confident in providing robust, sound and impartial advice to elected members and senior officers.

Our retained consultants at Osborne Thomas are supporting us with the appointment to the post, and look forward to discussing this role in greater depth with you.

Responsibilities

• To continue to drive a culture of high quality development management to facilitate the ambitions of Sutton's major regeneration and investment programmes, supporting jobs, wellbeing, sustainability and housing for residents.
• To lead the development of planning policy, related strategies and masterplans which will enable quality, low carbon development including of the London Cancer Hub, housing estate and town centre regeneration and the enhancement of Sutton's extensive network of parks, waterways and green spaces through biodiversity uplift.
• Provide strategic management of the council's statutory planning function as the Chief Planning Officer and oversee the provision of effective services to manage planning applications to their completion.
• Work closely with and provide advice to the Council's senior leadership team, lead elected members and Planning Committee.
• To work strategically with partners such as the GLA and other South London Boroughs to articulate the needs of South London and ensure the London Plan reflects investment priorities and needs.
• Using leadership skills, creativity and judgement, continually modernise and transform services to respond to the changing financial context and the opportunities afforded by an integrated planning and building control service.
• To play an active role in the Council's wider leadership team and contribute to the wider directorate.

To apply

For more information on this opportunity including the job description, information about Sutton, the benefits offered and how to apply, please visit the Osborne Thomas website which can be accessed via the Apply button.

Closing date - 17th November