Head of Strategic Planning

Place North West; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is seeking a strategic planning leader to shape the city-region’s growth, housing, and infrastructure strategy in a hybrid Manchester-based role.

You will direct the Mayor’s Spatial Development Strategy, supervise a planning team, and coordinate with local authorities, government, and private partners to deliver ambitious outcomes for Greater Manchester.

Qualifications

• A recognised degree in planning or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant and up-to-date experience working within a strategic planning, spatial planning or policy environment in the UK.
• Strong understanding of local government, devolution and the opportunities and challenges facing places today.
• Experience leading complex policy development, implementation and monitoring programmes.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to prepare high-quality reports and briefings and present complex issues clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• Proven experience of leading and developing teams and managing people effectively.
• The ability to build successful partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and develop practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead Greater Manchester’s strategic planning programme, shaping policy development and delivery across one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic city-regions.
• Provide leadership for the Strategic Planning Team, fostering a high-performing and collaborative culture.
• Lead the Mayor’s statutory planning functions, including the preparation of the Greater Manchester Spatial Development Strategy and strategic joint plans.
• Work closely with local authorities and a broad range of stakeholders to develop and deliver strategic planning priorities.
• Lead planning input into housing growth initiatives and support accelerated delivery of new homes.
• Build and maintain influential partnerships across regional and national networks.
• Commission and oversee major research, evidence and intelligence programmes.
• Manage significant project budgets and resources, ensuring successful delivery.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Policy development

Team management

Education

Degree in planning or related discipline

Job description

Company: Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Help Shape the Future of Greater Manchester in one of the most influential strategic planning roles in the UK

Greater Manchester is entering an exciting new phase of devolution, investment and growth. As one of the UK’s leading city-regions, we are at the forefront of shaping how places can deliver sustainable growth, unlock investment and improve opportunities for communities.

We are looking for an exceptional strategic planning leader to join our Place Directorate and help deliver this ambition. At a pivotal moment for Greater Manchester and the wider planning system, you will lead work that will shape the future of the city-region for decades to come.

A key part of the role will be leading the preparation of the Mayor’s first Spatial Development Strategy, providing the statutory framework that will guide housing, employment, infrastructure and regeneration across Greater Manchester. Working at the intersection of planning, investment and delivery, you will play a central role in ensuring we have the strategic plans and partnerships needed to support ambitious, inclusive and sustainable growth.

This is a rare opportunity to operate at city-region scale, aligning strategic planning with major investment programmes, infrastructure priorities and growth initiatives. Working closely with local authorities, government departments, elected leaders and private-sector partners, you will help unlock new homes, jobs and transformational regeneration opportunities across Greater Manchester.

Reporting to the Deputy Director Place (Planning), you will lead a talented strategic planning team and work with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to develop a strategic vision for growth that supports our ambitions for more homes, better infrastructure, thriving town centres and a stronger.

Your Role

As Head of Strategic Planning, you will:

• Lead Greater Manchester’s strategic planning programme, shaping policy development and delivery across one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic city-regions.
• Provide leadership for the Strategic Planning Team, fostering a high-performing and collaborative culture.
• Lead the Mayor’s statutory planning functions, including the preparation of the Greater Manchester Spatial Development Strategy and strategic joint plans, particularly the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals and Waste Plan.
• Work closely with Greater Manchester’s local authorities and a broad range of stakeholders to develop and deliver strategic planning priorities.
• Lead strategic planning input into housing growth initiatives and work alongside the Housing First Unit to support accelerated delivery of new homes across Greater Manchester.
• Build and maintain influential partnerships across regional and national networks, promoting Greater Manchester’s ambitions and leadership in spatial planning and growth.
• Commission and oversee major research, evidence and intelligence programmes that inform strategic planning decisions and policy development.
• Manage significant project budgets and resources, ensuring successful delivery of key strategic planning programmes.
• Contribute to the delivery of the Greater Manchester Strategy by helping align planning, infrastructure, regeneration and economic growth priorities.

About You

• We’re looking for a strategic thinker, collaborative leader and experienced planning professional who can operate effectively in a complex and fast-moving environment.
• You will bring:
  • A recognised degree in planning or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Significant and up-to-date experience working within a strategic planning, spatial planning or policy environment in the UK.
  • Strong understanding of local government, devolution and the opportunities and challenges facing places today.
  • Experience leading complex policy development, implementation and monitoring programmes.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to prepare high-quality reports and briefings and present complex issues clearly to a wide range of audiences.
  • Proven experience of leading and developing teams and managing people effectively.
  • The ability to build successful partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors and influence senior stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and develop practical solutions.

Why Join Us?

• This is a unique opportunity to:
  • Lead the preparation of one of the UK’s most significant Spatial Development Strategies.
  • Shape how growth, housing, infrastructure and regeneration are planned and delivered across Greater Manchester.
  • Work at the forefront of devolution and city-region governance.
  • Influence policy and delivery at local, regional and national levels.
  • Make a lasting impact on the future of Greater Manchester and the lives of its residents.

About us:

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)brings together the city‑region’s ten councils and key partners including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) – to deliver the Greater Manchester Strategy. Our shared vision is to create a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life. We work to grow an inclusive economy and ensure people have what they need to live happy, healthy lives, tackling inequalities. Our policy department include Digital, Economy, Education, Work & Skills, Environment, Place Making, Public Service Reform, and Safer & Stronger Communities – who are supported by our essential corporate functions like Finance, Legal & Governance, People Services, Procurement and Communications.

We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people’s age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here:

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for any vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register then the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome.

This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing. Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our Manchester city centre office, allocated GM Local Authority office(s), or on site in the community, with remote working, typically from home (within a reasonable commutable distance from Greater Manchester); the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: ‘Do what is right for you and the business on that day’. If appointed to the role you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.

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