Principal Planning Manager - Local Plan

Manchester City Council; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26–31 days

Volunteer leave

35-hour work week

Pension scheme

Job summary

Manchester City Council is seeking an experienced Planning professional to lead the Local Plan team within the Planning Strategy division. The post holder will work with the Planning Strategy Manager to drive the Local Plan through consultation and towards examination by the end of 2026, liaising across services to deliver high quality policy documents and developments.

You will engage with stakeholders, support delivery of planning policy, and help shape a safe and sustainable future for

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and public speaking with strong written and verbal skills.
• Ability to think strategically and translate Vision into practical policy.
• Experience turning policy ideas into deliverable work plans with measurable outcomes.
• A proven track record in managing budgets and resources within a service.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Local Plan team within Planning Strategy and liaise with other teams.
• Support delivery of the Local Plan and other planning policy documents.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure high quality development and safe environments in the city.

Skills

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Planning & Organising

Problem Solving & Decision Making

Strategic Thinking

Policy Skills

Financial Management

People Management

Education

Degree level

Job description

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Closing Date & Closing time: 11.59pm,10 September 2026

Interview Method: Face to Face

Legal Right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action

This role is subject to -

2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

Qualification - Degree level

This is an exciting time to be joining the Planning Strategy Team in Manchester as we have just started consultation on the final version of the Local Plan with an intention to submit the plan for examination by the end of 2026. The role will work with the Planning Strategy Manager to lead the Local Plan team within Planning Strategy. The post holder will be expected to liaise across these other teams as part of their role and to support the delivery of the Local Plan and other planning policy documents. If you share Manchester’s clear ambitions in delivering high quality developments, and safe and secure environments in the city, we want to hear from you.

If you're successful, you'll joina team of professionals pushing forwarda high standard of service deliver within the wider Planning Service.

We would love to hear from you if you have experience of:

Essential requirements for the role

• Communication Skills - Speaks fluently and writes articulately, expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly, makes presentations and undertakes public speaking with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; projects credibility. An ability to motivate others through building effective relationships and gaining their full support for achieving outcomes.
• Analytical Skills - Demonstrates the ability to apply analytical and logical thinking to gathering and analysing information, designing and testing solutions to problems, and formulating plans.
• Planning and Organising - Sets clearly defined objectives, plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of changing circumstances; identifies and organises resources and manages time effectively monitoring performance against milestones and deadlines. Ability to turn strategic ideas and objectives into practical, well organised plans.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making - Uses creative ability to find solutions and whilst considering policy and procedure is also confident in adopting (and justifying) novel or non-standard approaches.
• Strategic Thinking - Excellent planning skills and ability to link strategy to policy which meets both internal and external requirements. Ability to translate vision into strategy and strategy into action.
• Policy Skills - Builds collaborative and trusting relationships with decision makers; and lead in the design of delivery frameworks and key performance indicators.
• Financial Management - Resource and financial management skills, including resolution of conflicting priorities, formulating budgets, rigorous monitoring and control procedures.
• People Management - Effective development, management and motivation of staff within service area, providing leadership and planning for the work of a service based function or Council wide team. Establishes clear targets and monitors progress to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery.

The experience below would be beneficial but is not essential

Desirable requirements that would be useful in this role

• Possession of a recognised Town Planning qualification resulting in exemption from RTPI examination or successful completion of the final examination of the RTPI.
• Significant knowledge, understanding and experience of the statutory planning system and its operation within a local planning authority.
• A minimum of 5 year’s experience working in a planning policy environment

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you’re supporting communities or improving public services, you’ll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone

Benefits we offer

• Up to 26 days’ annual leave,rising to 31 days after five years’service
• Buy up to two extra weeks’ leave
• Up to 3 days’ volunteering leave
• A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
• TheUK’s largest local government pension scheme
• Enhanced parental and carers leave
• Employee discounts andperks
• Good Employment Charter member

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council values equality and works to provide a fair and inclusive environment for a workforce that is as diverse as the communities it serves. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly welcome applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirement for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not arole we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

GM Elevate Programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate( Leadership Development) Programme within the last two years, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Accessible Formats

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