Strategic Planning Manager

Great Yarmouth; Great Yarmouth; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Pension scheme access

Job summary

Great Yarmouth Borough Council invites applications for a senior planning role on the east coast of Norfolk. The post offers a substantial salary band with potential market supplements and an additional recruitment incentive, reflecting senior responsibilities in urban regeneration and Local Plan delivery.

Successful candidates will have at least five years in planning, must hold RTPI chartered status, and demonstrate leadership, policy analysis, and robust communication to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Five years in the planning profession and an excellent grasp of planning legislation, the NPPF and Local Plans.
• Qualified Town and Country Planning professional with full RTPI chartered membership.
• Confident communicator with proven ability to lead and build relationships and present complex information clearly.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and delivery of Local Plan and statutory planning requirements.
• Provide planning policy input across a wide range of applications.
• Lead, motivate and manage priorities within a public service planning team.

Skills

Planning leadership

Communication skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Education

RTPI chartered member

Job description

The salary for this role is graded at band 10, with a salary range of £54,143 to £58,339 per annum. In addition, to this salary is the potential for a market supplement of up to £10,000 per annum, which is reviewed annually. Eligibility for the market supplement is subject to candidates demonstrating the appropriate level of managerial experience within a comparable role and the ability to undertake the responsibilities of the post at that level. A further £10,000 recruitment incentive is available for the successful candidate, subject to the Councils terms and conditions.

This is a fantastic opportunity to influence urban regeneration and coastal developments in the Borough of Great Yarmouth. Located on the east coast of Norfolk, the Borough benefits from over 15 miles of coastline, a strong visitor economy, a growing offshore energy and port logistics sector, and the distinctive seaside towns of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea.

The Council is delivering an ambitious regeneration programme, with major projects including regeneration at North Quay, South Denes, and the Winter Gardens. This builds upon the successful restoration of The Venetian Waterways and transformation of Great Yarmouth’s Market Place. The Borough’s unique landscape and constraints require a carefully balanced approach to growth, addressing climate change, flood risk, and deprivation.

The Council is preparing to adopt its new Local Plan setting out a clear vision to deliver 6,840 new homes by 2042 alongside employment opportunities and supporting infrastructure. Under the new plan-making system, the Council has recently published a notice to commence a new Local Plan. Much of this role will focus on the preparation and delivery of the plan to meet statutory requirements.

The role offers genuine scope to support development across the Borough. The Council receives a wide range of planning applications which requires regular planning policy input.

In addition to a competitive salary, the Council provides an attractive benefits package:

• generous annual leave
• flexible working arrangements
• paid RTPI subscription
• access to a good local pension scheme

End date: 25th October 2026

Interview date: To be confirmed

About You

Successful candidates will have at least five years in the planning profession, with an excellent grasp in planning legislation, the NPPF and the preparation of Local Plans. You will be a qualified Town and Country Planning professional holding a full chartered membership of the RTPI. You will be a confident and professional communicator, with proven ability to lead, build positive working relationships and present complex information clearly to a wide range of audiences. You will be comfortable making decisions, managing competing priorities and motivating others to deliver excellent results. We are looking for someone who is proactive, resilient and adaptable, with a genuine passion for planning, public service and helping communities thrive.

About Us

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has the goal to achieve excellence for the Borough. We don’t just say we are ambitious; we mean it. We are always looking at the ways in which we can improve and be the best that we can, providing the best for the people who live, work, visit and operate businesses in the Borough.

We have big plans for the future and massive opportunities ahead. We are one of the most successful enterprise zones in the country, Great Yarmouth is England’s offshore energy hub and Norfolk’s biggest seaside resort at the edge of the Broads National Park. The challenges we face in the borough are wide, but our commitment to achieving more has never been so focused.

We know that our team members are our most valuable asset, working hard to achieve our short and long term goals.

We offer a range of exciting benefits as an employer and are committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and the services we provide.