Strategic Planner

London Gov; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Season ticket loan

Bicycle loan

Career average pension scheme

Job summary

Good Growth, part of the Greater London Authority, seeks a Development Management professional to assess strategic planning applications and present recommendations to the Mayor and Deputy Mayors. You will lead pre-application discussions with developers and boroughs, and work with Viability, Design Unit and Place Unit to deliver London-wide growth and place-making.

You will need planning study progress or RTPI eligibility, strong communication, strategic thinking, and robust risk assessment.

Qualifications

• Substantial progress towards a degree in planning or equivalent, with RTPI eligibility.
• Knowledge of national, regional and London planning issues, policy trends and processes.
• Ability to investigate, analyse and present planning solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; report, presentation and mapping skills.
• Strategic thinking to turn long-term insights into action.
• Clear communication and influencing to build credibility.
• Sound, evidence-based judgement and risk assessment.
• Strong planning, time management and organisational abilities.
• Strong problem-solving with creative, timely solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-application meetings with developers and boroughs for major developments.
• Assess strategic planning applications referred to the Mayor and prepare reports.
• Present planning recommendations to the Mayor and Deputy Mayors.
• Collaborate with teams across the GLA, including Viability, Design Unit and Place Unit.
• Engage with London boroughs and applicants to deliver Good Growth ambitions.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Decision making

Planning and organising

Problem solving

Education

Planning degree or RTPI eligibility

Job description

Good Growth

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

About the role

This role is in the Development Management team within Planning and Regeneration, where you will be part of a high quality statutory planning service dealing with a wide variety of strategic planning applications with competing priorities. You will be assessing major planning applications that are referred to the Mayor, and will present your planning recommendations directly to the Mayor and Deputy Mayors. You will understand how to apply the London Plan in a pragmatic and sensible way that encourages and delivers the Mayor’s objectives.

What your day will look like

• Leading pre-application meetings with developer teams and boroughs to discuss forthcoming major developments across London and provide strategic planning advice.
• Assessing planning applications of strategic importance that are referred to the Mayor and preparing written planning reports.
• Presenting planning recommendations directly to the Mayor and Deputy Mayors at the Mayor’s weekly planning meeting
• Working collaboratively with other teams across the GLA including viability, the Design Unit and the Place Unit, TfL, Environment and London Plan teams
• Engaging with London boroughs and applicants to ensure delivery of Good Growth ambitions

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Substantial progress towards either a degree in planning or equivalent or post graduate qualification with eligibility for Royal Town Planning Institute membership.
• Knowledge and understanding of national, regional and London strategic planning and development issues, legal processes, policy trends, and broad knowledge and understanding of local planning issues and processes and a knowledge of urban design and place making.
• Evidence of an ability to investigate, analyse and present policy and urban design solutions for planning issues.
• Excellent communication skills; and evidence of ability to prepare clear and concise reports, presentations and briefings, including an ability to illustrate ideas through mapping and graphics presentations.
• Strategic thinking - is using an understanding of the bigger picture to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for the long term and turning these into a compelling vision for action
• Communicating and Influencing - is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us
• Decision Making - is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.
• Planning and Organising - is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.
• Problem solving - is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

This role is based at London Fire Brigade’s Head Office (Union Street SE1 0LL).

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Connaire Osullivan would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them [e-mail]

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact [e-mail] who support the GLA with recruitment.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is W/C 5th October 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

The GLA is proud to be a Level 2: Disability Confident employer. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive and accessible organisation, and creating a truly inclusive and accessible workplace and culture for our disabled staff. We have named Disability Equality as a key corporate priority within our EDI Strategy. We welcome and encourage applications from disabled applicants. Should you wish to opt into the scheme, please let us know during your application.

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