Head of Service - Planning Policy

Wrexham County Borough Council; Wrexham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Generous annual leave (up to 32 days)

Family-friendly policies

Work-life balance and flexi time

Wrexham Reward Scheme

Health & wellbeing resources

Job summary

Wrexham County Borough Council invites an experienced Town Planning professional to join the Economy and Planning Department as part of the Senior Management Team. The post emphasizes leading a skilled team, guiding service improvements, and delivering policy-compliant advice to senior officers and councillors.

The role is permanent, 37 hours per week, and the council recognises the value of bilingual skills (English and Welsh).

Qualifications

• Proven leadership qualities
• Experience in town planning
• Ability to advise senior officers and councillors

Responsibilities

• Manage and motivate a skilled planning team
• Ensure compliance with national policy and standards
• Provide expert advice to senior Officers, Councillors and stakeholders

Job description

For this post, Wrexham Council offers a recruitment incentive payment to external new appointments who will receive a payment of £3,300 gross (pro rata for part-time worker) in addition to the post's salary grade and incremental point. The first 50% will be paid in the first monthly pay and the remaining sum of 50% in the month that follows the confirmed successful completion of their probationary period.

Permanent

37 hours a week

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced Town Planning professional with proven leadership qualities to be an integral member of the Senior Management Team within our Economy and Planning Department.

This is a key role in the delivery of service improvement and helping shape the County Borough for the future. You will manage and motivate a skilled team, ensure compliance with national policy, and provide expert advice to senior Officers, Councillors and other stakeholders.

Applicants will need to demonstrate positive behaviours which align with the Council's values – Empowerment, Trust & Honesty, Aspirational, Collaboration, Making a difference, Fairness and Selflessness.

The Council is committed to developing its bilingual workforce and welcomes applications from candidates who can demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh.

We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, sexuality, religious belief or age.

About Us

• Grymuso

The County Borough of Wrexham, located in North East Wales, is proud of its Welsh heritage and cultural identity. Over the years it has grown to reflect a population that is multi-religious and multi-ethnic and complements the diversity of our communities.

Centred on the city of Wrexham, which nestles between the Welsh mountains and the Cheshire plains, it is a location that really can offer you the best of both worlds and we are proud of our city status (awarded in 2022 when we became the seventh city in Wales).

Wrexham County Borough Council is a unitary Council which delivers a wide range of services aimed at improving the lives of Wrexham residents and surrounding communities. We are committed to providing services through collaboration with local and national partners. With a focus on sustainable development, community wellbeing, and improving the lives of Wrexham residents and surrounding communities, Wrexham is a fantastic place to work, live, and learn.

The council is an inclusive employer with a workforce of around 5,500, offering diverse roles, training and development and rewarding career opportunities. Wrexham County Borough Council values innovation, bilingualism in English and Welsh, and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, the council ensures accessible recruitment and support for disabled employees including offering a guaranteed interview (where essential person specification items are met). Additionally, veterans will receive guaranteed interviews under the Armed Forces Covenant if eligibility criteria are met (where essential person specification items are met).

Employee benefits include:

• Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave up to 32 days
• Family-friendly policies supporting caring and family commitments
• Work-life balance and flexi time (dependent on role)
• Access to Wrexham Reward Scheme with discounts off leading retailers nationally and locally
• Health & well-being resources, for example:
  • Healthy & Wellbeing Champions
  • Employee assistance programme with advice on staying healthy financially, mentally or physically:
    • Counselling (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
    • In-the-moment emotional support (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
    • Option to set health-boosting goals with small, sustainable lifestyle changes
    • Connect health apps to track physical health and meet progress goals
    • Blogs, videos, recipes and more resources providing inspiration and motivation
    • Identify risks of developing leading lifestyle-related diseases with mental health and financial scores
    • Legal, financial and consumer advice
  • Health and wellbeing events and campaigns throughout the year (e.g. November Health Day, Time to Talk Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Sun Awareness Week, Menopause Week, Financial Health Week)
  • Menopause Café and guidance
  • Unpaid Carer Café and guidance

Our Council Plan 2023-28 sets out our priorities for this period and we deliver these by following the Nolan Values of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership) as well as our own Corporate Values: