Planning Strategy Lead

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Dartford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Generous leave entitlement

Free on-site parking

Employee benefits package

Job summary

Dartford Borough Council is seeking a Planning Strategy Lead to lead the growth & community division’s planning strategy and infrastructure planning initiatives. The role focuses on delivering policy and infrastructure work within a dynamic team, contributing to multi-million pound funding and future growth plans.

The successful candidate will have significant statutory plan preparation experience, strong analytical abilities, and proven leadership to guide a department through complex policy

Qualifications

• Significant statutory Plan preparation experience.
• Policy-based decisions on infrastructure planning.
• Strong analytical and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning strategy and infrastructure planning initiatives in Dartford.
• Manage a team and report to Head of Planning Strategy.
• Deliver planning policy and infrastructure policy work within a multi-year programme.

Job description

Post Titles

Planning Strategy Lead

Directorate

Growth &Community

Division

Planning &Place

Grade

L

Salary

Starting at £65,100.42per annum increasing to £68,895.58per annumfollowing 12 months satisfactory performance.

Duties

Are you in planning strategy or infrastructure and seek an influential new senior role?Or do you have development management experienceand are looking for a fresh challenge? Join Dartford, the second fastest growing Borough in the country, and take the lead.

We are looking to sustain our high growth and deliver new planning policy and infrastructure, maximising benefits from our multi-million pound CIL funding. You will have in-depth planning strategy or infrastructure planning expertise, through significant statutory Plan preparation experience, infrastructure policy work or strategic public sector development management experience.

Dartford is the Kent Borough adjoining London on the Rivers Thames and Darent. Dartford is the proud RTPI Silver Jubilee Cup award winner (alongside Arup) for the Lower Darent Riverside Strategy. The Borough is both urban and rural, including Ebbsfleet Garden City and Bluewater shopping centre, but also marshland, heath, and Ancient Woodland.

We are looking for an innovative and flexible thinker keen for a challenge in a positive and integrated Planning & Place division.

Demonstrable experience of policy-based decisions on infrastructure planning/ investment, or developer contribution expenditure prioritisation, is required. Substantial knowledge of national planning policy/ local plan legislation and reform is necessary. You will have strong quantitative, analytical and written capabilities, a creative approach to problem solving and good leadership and communication attributes. You will be managing and working with an enthusiastic team, whilst reporting to and being supported by the Head of Planning Strategy.

We offer hybrid working arrangements which seek a balance of home and office-based working. Part-time working arrangements will be considered for the right candidate, please call if you wish to discuss your circumstances.

Conveniently located, the Borough’s connections are more than just the Dartford crossing and M25. Dartford rail station (adjacent to the Council offices) is just 11 minutes travel from the Elizabeth Line, and has Thameslink and direct links to London Charing Cross and Victoria. We have good buses including TfL services and Fastrack rapid transit.

If you would like to speak about this post please contactMark Aplin,Head ofPlanning Strategyon01322 343202.

The interview date for this role is: weekcommencing9November 2026.

Benefits

Hybrid working,career average pension scheme, generous leave entitlement, professional fee payment, free on-site parking, and employee benefits package.

Additional Information

Thispost is considered by DBC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements.

37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

"The Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer"

Closing Date

30 October 2026

Reference

DBC/PSL

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.