Senior Urban Planning Manager

Manpower SA Ltd; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Senior Urban Planning Manager to join a dynamic development team in Cape Town. This role involves managing town planning, heritage, and environmental processes, requiring both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. Ideal candidates have over 10 years of experience in urban planning, including significant team management and local government liaison, all while demonstrating advanced communication and project management skills.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in urban planning, including strategic development planning.
• Minimum 5 years working with Municipal Zoning schemes.
• Proven track record in managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience with local and provincial government liaison.

Responsibilities

• Assess and implement strategic spatial planning objectives.
• Manage planning inputs and workflows for development approval processes.
• Monitor ongoing planning requirements and development obligations.

Skills

Strategic thinking and planning abilities

Advanced written and verbal communication

Excellent report writing capabilities

Project management

Budget allocation

Critical reasoning

Strong administrative skills

MS Office proficiency

Presentation skills

Education

Postgraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning (NQF Level 9)

SACPLAN registration as a Professional Planner

Certificate courses in Built Environment fields

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Urban Planning Manager to join our dynamic development team at a prestigious waterfront development. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to shape the future of one of South Africa's most iconic urban destinations.

Working alongside our Urban Planning Director, you'll be instrumental in managing statutory town planning, heritage, and environmental processes that bring our development vision to life. This is a leadership position requiring both strategic thinking and hands‑on execution.

Key Responsibilities

Development Planning Management

• Assess and implement strategic spatial planning objectives
• Review and analyse planning matters for proposed, current, and past projects
• Establish and manage planning, heritage, and environmental development controls
• Direct and coordinate statutory approval processes with local and provincial authorities
• Liaise with multiple stakeholders including government bodies and consultants

Project Coordination

• Manage planning inputs and workflows for development approval processes
• Coordinate internal resources, consultants, and budgets
• Maintain comprehensive systems for planning records, reports, and documentation
• Facilitate communication between internal departments and external parties

Monitoring & Compliance

• Monitor ongoing planning requirements and development obligations
• Track planning legislation, policies, and frameworks
• Prepare reports on planning applications and development issuesc]
  
• Conduct site visits and inspections as required

What We’re Looking For

Essential Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning (NQF Level 9)
• SACPLAN registration as a Professional Planner
• Certificate courses in Built Environment fields

Experience Required

• 10+ years in urban planning, including strategic development planning
• Minimum 5 years working with Municipal Zoning schemes
• Proven track record in managing multi‑disciplinary teams
• Experience with local and provincial government liaison

Technical Knowledge

• Town Planning, Environmental and Heritage Legislation
• City of Cape Town Development Management Scheme (DMS)
• Package of Plans planning approval system
• National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act
• Urban development principles and implementation

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking and planning abilities
• Advanced written and verbal communication
• Excellent report writing capabilities
• Project management and budget allocation
• Critical, logical, and numerical reasoning
• Strong administrative and detail-oriented approach
• MS Office proficiency
• Presentation skills

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted