Plan Project Manager

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Part time

Job summary

Slough Borough Council is seeking a skilled Plan Project Manager to lead the Local Plan programme. The role involves managing project planning and procurement in a hybrid setting, ensuring compliance with planning standards. Strong candidates will have extensive experience in local authority planning, stakeholder coordination, and GIS tools. This temporary contract offers a pay rate aligned with industry standards for project management within local government contexts.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing Local Plan processes in a local authority context.
• Strong understanding of spatial planning, policy development and statutory deadlines.
• Knowledge of procurement, commissioning, and evidence base scoping.
• Competence in GIS software (QGIS).
• Excellent stakeholder coordination and project reporting skills.
• Available for a hybrid role with weekly office presence in Slough.

Responsibilities

• Scope and commission priority studies such as SHELAA and Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report.
• Manage procurement and commissioning through compliance procedures.
• Review previous work and current policy context.
• Update project plan and timeline to align evidence, policies, and processes.
• Coordinate Local Plan Boards and change control processes.

Skills

Local Plan processes

Spatial planning

GIS software (QGIS)

Stakeholder coordination

Project reporting

Procurement and commissioning

Education

MRTPI or equivalent planning qualification

Tools

GIS software (QGIS)

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Title: Plan Project Manager
Company: Slough Borough Council
Location: Hybrid – Observatory House, Slough (minimum 1 day per week in-office)
Contract Type: Temporary
Contract Length: August 2025 – February 2026 (extension possible)
Pay Rate:£57.82 Umbrella / £42.91 PAYE

Summary:
Slough Borough Council is seeking a skilled Plan Project Manager to lead the next stage of its Local Plan programme. The role will focus on progressing from Regulation 18 through to Regulation 19 and ideally Regulation 22 by submission to PINS in December 2026. The Council is currently finalising a refreshed LDS, with support from central government to deliver a robust and compliant local plan that responds to local development pressures.

Key Responsibilities: Evidence Base Coordination

• Scope and commission three priority studies:
  
  
  
  
  • Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA)
    
    
    

  
  

  • Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment
    
    
    

  
  

  • Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report
    
    
    

  
  

  
  




• Manage procurement and commissioning through SBC compliance procedures
  
  
  




• Liaise with public health, housing and environmental teams on parallel evidence gathering
  
  
  

Project Planning & Management

• Review previous Reg 18 work and current policy context
  
  
  




• Update project plan and timeline to ensure evidence, policies, and process align
  
  
  




• Produce work programme for 25+ evidence base documents and track delivery
  
  
  




• Support development of business cases, deliverables, and reporting frameworks
  
  
  




• Coordinate Local Plan Boards and change control processes
  
  
  

Spatial Planning & Technical Input

• Apply GIS tools (QGIS) to assess and present development site suitability
  
  
  




• Support identification and assessment of sites for allocation
  
  
  




• Ensure robust responses to key policy issues (e.g. Heathrow Expansion, housing need, Green Belt)
  
  
  




• Contribute to preparation of committee reports, spatial strategies, and stakeholder briefings
  
  
  

Person Specification: Essential:

• Proven experience managing Local Plan processes in a local authority context
  
  
  




• Strong understanding of spatial planning, policy development and statutory deadlines
  
  
  




• Knowledge of procurement, commissioning, and evidence base scoping
  
  
  




• Competence in GIS software (QGIS )
  
  
  




• Excellent stakeholder coordination and project reporting skills
  
  
  




• Available for a hybrid role with weekly office presence in Slough
  
  
  

Desirable:

• MRTPI or equivalent planning qualification
  
  
  




• Experience navigating complex local constraints such as Green Belt review, infrastructure pressures or airport safeguarding
  
  
  




• Familiarity with MHCLG policy and planning reform