Planning Policy Team Leader

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority is seeking an experienced planning policy professional to manage one of its sub-teams. The role involves preparing the Local Plan, managing junior staff, and collaborating with stakeholders. The work model is hybrid, requiring some office presence a couple of times per week. Candidates should have substantial planning policy experience and a planning degree with RTPI membership.

Benefits

Career development support

Health and well-being initiatives

Discounts on gym memberships and travel

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in planning policy including local plans.
• Proven ability to support and develop staff.
• Strong interpersonal, persuasion, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage one of the Planning Policy sub-teams.
• Provide 1:1 coaching and performance management to junior officers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver planning policy outcomes.

Skills

Planning policy experience

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Planning degree and RTPI membership

Job description

Overview

As an experienced planning policy professional, you will manage one of the two sub-teams within Planning Policy and take on complex and key work areas in preparing the Buckinghamshire Local Plan as well as a range of other planning policy work. You will line manage junior officers, providing 1:1 support to help them progress as they gain experience and responsibility. You will work as an any-desk worker connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, with the requirement to work from the office a couple of times a week

Role and responsibilities

• Lead and manage one of the Planning Policy sub-teams within Planning Policy, taking on complex work areas in the preparation of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan and other planning policy work.
• Line manage junior officers, providing 1:1 coaching, performance management support and development opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with a range of stakeholders to deliver planning policy outcomes and support partners across teams.
• Work flexibly within a hybrid model (home and office) in line with role and team requirements.

Requirements

• Planning degree and full membership of the RTPI (or eligible for membership).
• Substantial experience in planning policy, including local plans, and ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders.
• Proven ability to support and develop staff through coaching and performance management; strong interpersonal, persuasion and negotiation skills.

About Buckinghamshire Council

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation formed by the merger of five councils in the county, focused on serving residents, communities and businesses. Planning Policy is a large and well-resourced team within Spatial Planning and Climate Resilience, in the Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate. The directorate helps shape Buckinghamshire’s future by delivering planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property services. The team is involved in shaping the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire and supporting town and parish councils as they prepare neighbourhood plans, with high-quality development monitoring information to underpin our work.

The team currently works two days per week in one of the Council’s principal offices in Aylesbury and High Wycombe, and three days at home.

Benefits and culture

• A fair and inclusive culture with flexible and agile working arrangements
• Support for career development and progression
• Health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• Employee Representation Group and Disability Confident employer status
• Discounts and benefits including Costco membership, gym discounts, travel discounts with Arriva, and other initiatives