Senior Planning Development & Conservation Manager

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Letchworth; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Disability Confident employer

Flexible working hours

Job summary

North Hertfordshire Council seeks a senior planning professional to jointly lead the planning service as a Deputy Chief Officer. The role centers on strategic leadership of development management, enforcement, and technical support, while hands-on involvement continues on complex matters.

You will supervise a team of 30+ officers, mentor, and share responsibilities with an outgoing manager moving to flexible retirement.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in development management within local government or similar.
• Eligible for or member of the RTPI.
• Experience handling complex and significant planning applications; balancing priorities.
• Ability to provide clear professional advice to elected members, officers, applicants and communities.
• Experience leading, supervising or developing planning staff and fostering a high-performing culture.
• Understanding of service performance metrics, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of planning enforcement, appeals and related legislation and practice.
• Excellent communicator with ability to build productive relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development management, planning enforcement, technical support and specialist functions.
• Lead and mentor a team of 30+ officers, sharing responsibilities with the current manager.
• Shape high-quality development across the district with a mix of scheme scales.
• Manage a high-volume workflow including applications, pre-apps and inquiries.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to ensure effective decision-making and service delivery.

Skills

Development management

RTPI membership

Complex planning applications

Clear professional advice

Leadership of staff

Service performance

Planning enforcement knowledge

Stakeholder relationships

Job description

North Hertfordshire Council seeks a senior planning professional to jointly lead the planning service as a Deputy Chief Officer. The role centers on strategic leadership of development management, enforcement, and technical support, while hands-on involvement continues on complex matters.

You will supervise a team of 30+ officers, mentor, and share responsibilities with an outgoing manager moving to flexible retirement.