Major Applications Team Leader

Venn Group; Hounslow; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

6-month contract

Job summary

Venn Group is partnering with a Warwickshire Local Authority on a 6-month interim contract for a Major Applications Team Leader. The role leads a Development Management team delivering major planning applications, with hybrid working and site visits across the district.

Reporting to senior management, you will oversee a team including an Assistant Team Leader and 10 Senior Planning Officers, ensuring timely progression and robust reports for Planning Committee deliberations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a Development Management team.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to drive major applications through to planning committee.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Major Applications team.
• Oversee processing and determination of major planning applications.
• Review and sign off officer reports and recommendations.
• Support and mentor planning officers on complex cases.
• Present and defend recommendations at Planning Committee.
• Drive performance and expedite planning decisions.
• Manage stakeholder relationships with applicants, developers, consultants, members and internal departments.
• Ensure compliance with planning legislation and policy.

Skills

Leadership and people management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Presentations to committees

Education

MRTPI Chartered Member

Job description

Major Applications Team Leader

Local Authority Warwickshire 6-Month Interim Contract

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Major Applications Team Leader to join a busy Local Authority Planning Service on an interim basis. This role will lead a high-performing Development Management team responsible for delivering a significant caseload of major planning applications within an area experiencing substantial development pressures.

Contract Details

• Job Title: Major Applications Team Leader
• Location: Warwickshire
• Rate: £75 per hour (Inside IR35)
• Contract Length: 6 Months
• Start Date: September 2026
• Working Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week
• Working Arrangement: Hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office, regular attendance at Planning Committee (Wednesday evenings), and site visits across the district

The Role

Reporting into senior management, you will provide leadership and oversight to a team comprising an Assistant Team Leader and 10 Senior Planning Officers. The focus of the role will be to ensure the efficient progression and determination of major planning applications, supporting officers, signing off reports, and helping to bring applications forward to Planning Committee.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Major Applications team
• Oversee the processing and determination of major planning applications
• Review and sign off officer reports and recommendations
• Support and mentor planning officers on complex cases
• Present and defend recommendations at Planning Committee
• Drive performance and help expedite planning decisions
• Manage stakeholder relationships with applicants, developers, consultants, members, and internal departments
• Ensure compliance with planning legislation, policy, and best practice

About You

• Chartered Member of the RTPI (MRTPI)
• Significant experience within Development Management and major applications
• Proven experience managing planning professionals within a local authority environment
• Strong track record of presenting applications and recommendations to Planning Committees
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience operating in areas with significant development pressures is desirable
• Experience within an authority without a five-year housing land supply would be advantageous

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Planning Manager, Development Management Team Leader, or Major Applications specialist looking to make an immediate impact within a busy and ambitious Local Authority service.