Planning Manager

Barnet Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Lifestyle discounts

Payroll benefits

Training and development opportunities

Employee well-being programs

Job summary

Barnet Council is seeking a Planning Manager with responsibility for leading a team of planning professionals and ensuring high standards in development management. The role carries hybrid working requirements and the flexibility to travel for service delivery.

The post focuses on managing development processes, assessing technical documents, supporting planning enforcement, and leading negotiations on major proposals in line with local policies and statutory requirements.

Responsibilities

• To manage the development process (planning applications and pre-application enquiries, including fast-track) from the earliest pre-application stage to the completion of the development.
• To assess technical documents submitted in support of planning applications.
• To support the delivery of the Council’s Planning Enforcement function.
• To organise and lead meetings and events with developers, specialists and stakeholders to analyse, negotiate or explain planning details and implications.
• To lead on performance management across the Development Management function.
• To analyse, negotiate and project manage major/complex development proposals and planning cases, including planning obligations (Section 106 contributions).
• To make delegated planning decisions on behalf of the Council at levels agreed by the Director of Planning and Building Control.

Job description

• Locations Colindale, London, NW9 4EW, GB (Hybrid)
• Apply Before 08/03/2026, 10:55 PM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Working Hours 36

This post is for internal candidates only.

Important Information for Current Barnet Council Employees

Where possible, employees who have access to Oracle are encouraged to apply via the Opportunity Marketplace (Internal Career Site). This helps to ensure applications are correctly identified as internal and avoids potential delays during the recruitment process.

About Barnet Council

Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do.

The Planning Manager is responsible for the management and performance of a team of professional development management planners and technical staff and/or the making of planning decisions. The role has delegated authority to sign off planning decisions on behalf of the Director of Planning and Building Control for the London Borough of Barnet. The role is hybrid, attendance at the office is required for fixed days each week. There may be times when it is expected for the post holder to travel outside of the Borough to deliver services on behalf of Barnet.

• To manage the development process (planning applications and pre-application enquiries, including fast-track) from the earliest pre-application stage, through the validation stage to the completion of the development to ensure that they meet the requirements of planning legislation, national and local planning policies, and the key objectives of the Council.
• The assessment of technical documents submitted in support of planning applications.
• To support the delivery of the Council’s Planning Enforcement function.
• To organise and lead meetings and other events involving developers, specialists across a range of disciplines (both within and outside the Council) and stakeholders to analyse, negotiate or explain the details of a development and its implications.
• To lead on performance management across the Development Management function
• To analyse, negotiate and project manage major/complex development proposals and planning cases including those involving planning obligations (Section 106 contributions) as necessary. Negotiations may include the level of pre-application/planning performance agreement fees to be paid to the Council.
• Make delegated planning decisions on behalf of the Council at levels agreed by the Director of Planning and Building Control.

What we offer

• 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
• Work-life balance options may include hybrid working, flexitime, job share, home working, part-time
• A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
• Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Employee well- being training programs including confidential employee assistance

System notice

Some dates shown on our online application system (such as “Apply Before”) appear in US date format (MM/DD/YYYY) due to Oracle system settings.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful tool to support your application as a reasonable adjustment, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn, escalated to counter Fraud for further investigation and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Barnet operates stringent safer recruitment procedures, this may include AI Detection Screening, Biometric ID/Right to Work Checks, Qualification and Registration Checks, Up to 6 years of Employment Data and Insights to Accelerate Screening (Konfir), Up to 5 years of Employment History References, DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Checks, Credit Checks and Social Media, Sanctions and Occupational Health Screening.

To deliver Barnet Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity in the provision of services, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. As such we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and hybrid working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

Barnet Council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

All posts with the council are subject to a probationary period of six months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the council satisfaction your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient number of applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Please ensure you regularly check the email account (including JUNK MAIL folders) that you use to submit your application, as any further communication regarding your application will be sent electronically. Should you not hear from us within four working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted.