Planning Policy and Place Manager

North Yorkshire Council; Northallerton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension scheme

Salary sacrifice schemes

Employee discounts

Health Assured

Learning, development and career Adv

Job summary

North Yorkshire Council is seeking a Planning Policy & Place Manager to lead significant policy and place-shaping work, guiding the Local Plan and associated documents. The role requires strategic leadership, strong governance, and collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders across multiple locations.

You will manage a high-performing team, oversee complex projects, influence decision-makers, and report to senior officers while aligning with housing, economic growth and sustainability

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading complex planning policy and plan-making programmes from inception to independent examination.
• In-depth knowledge of planning legislation and national planning policy.
• Proven ability to manage staff, budgets and resources within a complex organisational environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence and build partnerships.
• Sound understanding of local political processes and the ability to provide clear, credible advice to senior leaders.
• A proactive, innovative and collaborative approach with the ability to drive change.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation, review and implementation of the North Yorkshire Local Plan.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team across multiple locations.
• Oversee consultation and engagement programmes with communities and stakeholders.
• Represent the council at examinations, inquiries, hearings, committees and partnership meetings as required.
• Prepare and present reports and recommendations to senior officers and elected members.
• Drive continuous improvement and service transformation within Planning Service and corporate priorities.
• Manage budgets, resources and commissioned consultancy support.
• Build strategic partnerships with local authorities, government agencies and infrastructure providers.

Skills

Leadership

Planning policy

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Communication

Political awareness

Education

Town and Country Planning degree

RTPI Chartered Membership

Job description

Our Team

North Yorkshire Council's Planning Policy & Place team plays a vital role in shaping the future of England's largest county. We are responsible for preparing and delivering a new Local Plan that will guide sustainable growth, protect our natural and built environment, and create thriving places where people want to live, work and invest.

You’ll also enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working, combining home working with access to our collaborative office bases in Selby, Richmond, Scarborough, Northallerton, Skipton and Harrogate.

Role Summary

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead some of the most significant planning policy and place-shaping work in the country. As Planning Policy & Place Manager, working with a high degree of autonomy, you will take a professional leadership role in developing and delivering planning policy initiatives, including the preparation of the North Yorkshire Local Plan and other key planning documents.

Working within a supportive management team, you will lead a team of professional staff, manage complex projects, influence decision-makers, and work with a broad range of stakeholders to help deliver the council's ambitions for housing, economic growth, environmental sustainability and thriving communities.

Key Work Areas

Lead the preparation, review and implementation of the North Yorkshire Local Plan

• Develop planning policies that support sustainable growth and place-making.
• Manage public consultation, stakeholder engagement and independent examination.

• Build and maintain the evidence base that underpins planning policy decisions.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across transport, housing, climate, economic development, education, health and infrastructure services

• Lead and develop relationships with elected members, government bodies, statutory consultees, communities and partner organisations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Take major planning policy projects from inception through to adoption and implementation.

• Provide expert advice on planning policy, place-shaping and legislative requirements.
• Lead, support and develop a high-performing team working across multiple locations.

• Oversee consultation and engagement programmes with communities and stakeholders.

• Represent the council at examinations, inquiries, hearings, committees and partnership meetings, including acting as an expert witness where required.

• Prepare and present reports and recommendations to senior officers, committees, Executive Members and elected members.

• Drive continuous improvement and service transformation, helping to build a strong one-team culture within the Planning Service, contributing to organisational change and the council's wider corporate priorities.

• Manage budgets, resources and commissioned consultancy support.

• Build strategic partnerships with local authorities, government agencies, infrastructure providers and other key stakeholders.

About You

We are looking for an experienced planning professional who combines technical expertise with strong leadership skills, political awareness and a passion for shaping places. You’ll have:

• Extensive experience of leading complex planning policy and plan-making programmes from inception to independent examination.

• In-depth knowledge of planning legislation, national planning policy and the wider place‑shaping agenda.

• Proven ability to manage staff, budgets and resources within a complex organisational environment.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and build effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.

• A sound understanding of local political processes, with the ability to provide clear, credible advice to senior leaders, elected members and external organisations.

• A proactive, innovative and collaborative approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive positive change.

• A degree and/or postgraduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (or a related discipline recognised by the RTPI) and Chartered Membership of the RTPI.

What can we offer you?

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of great benefits to help you financially and make life a bit easier:

• a local government pension scheme with generous employer contribution

• salary sacrifice schemes

• employee discount benefits including shopping, supermarkets, gym discounts and more

• Health Assured – confidential help and support for your wellbeing

• learning, development and career advancement opportunities

Click on our Total Rewards Brochure at the bottom of this advert to see the full range of benefits.

Please note that this is a politically restricted post as defined by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Linda Mckenzie, Head of Planning Policy & Place ([e-mail] or 01423 556583)

Key Dates:

Closing Date: 22nd November 2026

Interviews:2nd & 3rd December 2026