Planning Support Team Leader

Rutland County Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Generous annual leave

LGPS

Health and wellbeing focus

Job summary

Rutland County Council's Development Management team is seeking an experienced Planning Support Team Leader to supervise the Planning Support team and ensure efficient processing of planning applications, appeals and related administrative functions within statutory timescales.

You will monitor service performance, drive improvements, and provide guidance to staff while ensuring high-quality customer service in a busy environment.

Qualifications

• Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word/Excel).
• Significant experience with planning systems, legislation and application processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interpret plans, maps and technical drawings.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy under pressure.
• Ability to use initiative, solve problems and think logically.
• Flexible and collaborative approach to work.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and excellent customer care.

Responsibilities

• Manage Planning Technicians, allocate workloads and ensure resilience during periods of absence.
• Oversee the validation and processing of planning applications and appeals within regulatory timescales.
• Support administration and performance monitoring of the Council's building control service.
• Maintain and develop planning systems, online portals and electronic records.
• Produce, check and issue statutory planning documentation.
• Monitor performance indicators and assist with government returns and benchmarking.
• Provide technical guidance and training to team members.
• Liaise with applicants, agents, statutory consultees, councillors and the public.
• Support service development and the implementation of new processes and systems to improve efficiency and customer service.

Skills

MS Office

Planning knowledge

Excellent communication

Map interpretation

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Equality & diversity

Tools

Planning portals

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Planning Support Team Leader to join Rutland County Council's Development Management team. This is a key role within our Places Directorate, leading a dedicated Planning Support team and helping to ensure the efficient delivery of the planning service across the county. You will play a vital role in maintaining service performance, supporting continuous improvement, and ensuring that planning applications, appeals and related processes are managed effectively and within statutory timescales.

Interview Date(s)

To be confirmed

Working Hours

37

About The Role

As Planning Support Team Leader, you will supervise and coordinate the daily work of the Planning Support team, ensuring the efficient processing of planning applications, appeals and associated administrative functions. Working closely with the Development Manager, you will help monitor service performance, implement service improvements and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and procedures.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Managing and supporting Planning Technicians, allocating workloads and ensuring service resilience during periods of absence.
• Overseeing the validation and processing of planning applications and appeals, ensuring regulatory timescales are met.
• Supporting the administration and performance monitoring of the Council's building control service.
• Maintaining and developing planning systems, online portals and electronic records.
• Producing, checking and issuing statutory planning documentation.
• Monitoring performance indicators and assisting with government returns and bench-marking activities.
• Providing technical guidance and training to team members.
• Liaising with applicants, agents, statutory consultees, councillors and members of the public.
• Supporting service development and the implementation of new processes and systems that improve efficiency and customer service.

About You

You will be an experienced administrator or planning support professional with excellent organisational skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality customer service. You will be confident managing staff, managing workloads and maintaining performance standards in a busy environment.

You Will Also Have

• Experience using Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
• Significant experience and working knowledge of planning systems, legislation and application processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to interpret plans, maps and technical drawings.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately under pressure.
• The ability to use initiative, solve problems and think logically.
• A flexible and collaborative approach to work.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and excellent customer care.

Relevant Experience

To be successful in this role, candidates may have experience in one or more of the following areas or roles:

• Planning Support Manager
• Planning Support Officer
• Planning Technician
• Development Management Administrator
• Planning Validation Officer
• Building Control Administrator
• Local Government Administration
• Development Management Support Services

Informal enquiries

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Justin Johnson, Development Manager, at [e-mail]

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A strong focus on health, wellbeing, and work-life balance

For further information on the benefits of working for Rutland, please see our careers page: Jobs and volunteering | Rutland County Council

Our Values

Our values – Passionate,Ambitious, WorkTogether, and Make a Difference – guide everything we do. We’re looking for people who share these values and want to contribute to strong, supportive teams that deliver positive outcomes for our communities.