Planning Policy Team Leader

Park Avenue Recruitment; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Park Avenue Recruitment is seeking an experienced Interim Planning Policy Team Leader for a Nottinghamshire role, to guide the Local Plan through examination and post-hearing stages. The position combines leadership of a small team with strategic advice to senior officers and elected Members, in a hybrid working pattern.

The role is expected to run from mid-to-late October 2026 to 31 March 2027, with office attendance typically one day per week (Thursday) and remaining hours as remote work.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Planning Policy and Local Plan preparation.
• Proven experience leading Local Plan examinations and post-hearing processes.
• RTPI membership or Chartered status preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Local Plan Partial Update through the Examination process.
• Manage the post-hearing programme, including Main Modifications consultation.
• Coordinate responses to representations and support Plan adoption.
• Provide strategic planning advice to senior officers and elected Members.
• Lead and support a small Planning Policy team.
• Ensure delivery of the Council's statutory planning policy functions.
• Oversee key evidence and monitoring documents (Five-Year Housing Land Supply, Infrastructure Funding Statement, Authority Monitoring).
• Manage competing priorities, project milestones and statutory deadlines.

Skills

Planning Policy

Local Plan preparation

Plan examinations

People management

Project management

Strategic advice

Job description

A Nottinghamshire Local Authority is seeking an experienced Planning Policy professional to provide interim leadership to its Planning Policy team from mid-to-late October 2026 through to 31 March 2027.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional to take a senior role at a critical stage of the Council's Local Plan Partial Update, with the hearing sessions currently underway.

The Role:

As Interim Planning Policy Team Leader, you will lead a small, professional Planning Policy team and take responsibility for progressing the Local Plan through the post-examination process, following the conclusion of the hearing sessions.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the Local Plan Partial Update through the Examination process
• Managing the post-hearing programme, including Main Modifications consultation
• Coordinating responses to representations and supporting activities required to secure Plan adoption
• Providing strategic planning advice to senior officers and elected Members
• Leading and supporting a small Planning Policy team
• Ensuring delivery of the Council's statutory planning policy functions
• Overseeing key evidence and monitoring documents, including:
• Five-Year Housing Land Supply
• Infrastructure Funding Statement
• Authority Monitoring
• Other associated policy projects
• Managing competing priorities, project milestones and statutory deadlines

About You:

We are looking for an experienced Planning Policy professional with a strong track record in Local Plan preparation and examination.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in Planning Policy and Local Plan preparation
• Proven experience leading Local Plan examinations and post-hearing processes
• Strong people management and team leadership skills
• The ability to work autonomously and provide credible strategic advice to senior officers and elected Members
• Excellent project management and organisational skills
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work to challenging statutory deadlines
• RTPI membership - Chartered status preferred

Contract Details:

• Role: Interim Planning Policy Team Leader
• Location: Nottinghamshire
• Start: Mid-to-late October 2026
• End: 31 March 2027
• Hours: 30-37 hours per week
• IR35: Inside IR35
• Working pattern: Hybrid
• Office attendance: Typically one day per week, normally Thursdays
• Remaining hours: Remote working

This is a particularly good opportunity for an experienced Planning Policy Manager, Principal Planning Policy Officer or Local Plan specialist who has recent examination experience and is comfortable take ownership of a team and a Local Plan at a critical stage.

Thanks

Steve