Strategic Planning Manager (Spatial Development)

Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority is seeking a Strategic Planning Manager (Spatial Development) to lead the development of strategic planning policies, evidence bases and statutory documents.

The role advises senior leaders, influences regional development, and reports to the Head of Planning and Environment. The post requires RTPI-accredited credentials and strong GIS/report writing skills, with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Senior planner with proven ability to lead strategic/spatial planning projects.
• Experience advising senior leaders and Councillors on complex issues.
• Knowledge of planning legislation, national policy and evidence-based planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of spatial policy, evidence bases and statutory documents.
• Inform SDS and strategic planning policy aligned with national policy.
• Prepare high-quality reports and briefings for senior leaders and boards.
• Coordinate multi-authority collaboration and public consultations.

Skills

Strategic planning

Spatial planning

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

GIS mapping

Report writing

Presentation skills

Education

RTPI-accredited Master’s degree

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Working hours: Full time - 37 hours per week

Schedule type: Hybrid working - Office days 2 days per week, however this is dependent on business needs

Are you looking for a role where you can help shape something new, make a visible difference and work alongside people who care deeply about their place? If so, HSCCA could be a brilliant next step. We are building a new Combined County Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, bringing together partners across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to bring investment to the region and to create opportunities for our people, places, communities and businesses.

The Role

The Strategic Planning Manager (Spatial Development) is a senior professional role responsible for leading the development of the HSCCA’s strategic planning policies, evidence bases, and statutory planning documents. The postholder provides authoritative planning advice to senior leaders and elected members, ensuring the HSCCA meets its statutory obligations and delivers high-quality spatial, economic, and environmental outcomes.

What you’ll be doing?

In this role, you’ll play a crucial part in ensuring our teams have the tools, knowledge, and processes they need to deliver a high-quality service. You will:

• Apply deep specialist knowledge, providing advice on complex planning projects, and collaborating across partners to influence long-term regional development.
• Inform the development of strategic planning policy, evidence bases, and statutory planning documents, ensuring alignment with national policy and the HSCCA priorities.
• Translate the HSCCA’s long-term spatial, economic, and environmental objectives into robust planning policy.
• Lead on key aspects of the preparation, monitoring and review of the Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).
• Provide expert professional advice to the Head of Planning and Environment and produce briefings that may be provided to the Executive Team, Board members and relevant partners on complex planning issues, risks, and opportunities.
• Prepare high-quality reports, policy documents, and briefings for senior leaders, The HSCCA Board and relevant committees.
• Lead major workstreams or activity that contributes to the regional Spatial Development Strategy, infrastructure frameworks and growth programmes with significant economic and environmental impact.
• Pro-actively encourage involvement in the preparation of planning documents by community groups, the voluntary sector, public and private agencies. Organise and attend public meetings and consultation events and liaise with community groups and other stakeholders on strategic planning issues.

What you’ll bring?

We’re looking for someone with:

• Extensive experience in strategic or spatial planning and development management.
• Proven ability to lead complex planning projects and produce statutory planning documents.
• Expert knowledge of planning legislation, national policy, and evidence-based planning.
• Experience advising senior leaders and Councillors.
• Experience working across multiple authorities or regional partnerships (desirable)
• Experience engaging with external stakeholders informally and as part of formal consultation processes.
• Understanding and interpretation of drawings, maps, and plans, GIS and computer-based mapping systems.
• Sound project management capability and high-quality report writing and presentation skills.
• RTPI-accredited Master’s degree or equivalent / Chartered Membership of the RTPI (or working towards).

Why join the HSCCA?

We are building the HSCCA on the basis that how we work is as important as what we deliver. We want people who bring enthusiasm, drive, and authenticity - who are proactive, open to challenge, and motivated by progress rather than process. We value collaborative leadership: the ability to bring people together across organisational boundaries, respect the expertise of others, and create shared direction without needing to own everything.

We act in line with the Nolan Principles. We use public money responsibly, make evidence-based decisions, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity, inclusion, and accessibility. We expect feedback to be given and received constructively, challenge to be welcomed, and relationships to be built on openness, trust, and mutual respect.

This is a complex, fast-moving environment. We need people who are energised by that.

What the HSCCA will offer in return?

As we take on new responsibilities devolved from Government, you will have a genuine opportunity to contribute to building a public service organisation that does things differently.

Our reward package includes:

• A flexible working environment, with hybrid working arrangements as standard (minimum 2 days per week in our office)
• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Investment in your professional development and leadership growth
• The chance to work alongside a leadership team that is committed to building an organisation where people thrive
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

The HSCCA is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, particularly those from groups that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes people from ethnic minority communities, disabled people, neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ people, parents and carers, and individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We are committed to removing barriers to employment and encourage candidates to let us know about any reasonable adjustments they may need at any stage of the recruitment process.

Selection process

Your application will progress through the following stages:

• Application Review

Your CV and supporting documents will be reviewed by Reed Recruitment against the essential criteria outlined in the Skills & Experience section of this advert.

Please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates how you meet the required criteria in order to be considered.

• Telephone Interview

If shortlisted, you will be invited to an initial telephone interview. During this stage, you will be assessed against the Skills & Experience criteria and your overall suitability for the position.

• Face-to-face Interview

If shortlisted, you will be invited to an initial face-to-face interview. During this stage, you will be assessed against the Skills & Experience criteria and your overall suitability for the position.

This is the final stage of the selection process and will determine the outcome of your application.

• Feedback

Feedback will be provided following the final face-to-face interview stage.

Please note that feedback is only available to candidates who attend the final stage interview stage. Successful candidates will then be considered for an offer.

Further information

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we run a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. If you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description for this position and would like to be considered under this scheme, please state this in your application.

All data collected is anonymous and has zero bearing on your application. If there is anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let the recruitment team know.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. As part of this, we use anonymous shortlisting to ensure candidates are assessed solely on their skills, experience, and suitability for the role.