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Location: High Wycombe

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Team Leader to join our Major Development Management Team at Buckinghamshire on a permanent basis. We are looking for a driven and dynamic individual with excellent management and people skills who wants to make a difference.

This role involves leading a motivated and agile team to deliver high-quality, customer-focused service. In this leadership position you will manage a team of principal planning officers handling a wide range of major and complex planning applications. You will oversee the delivery of effective regulatory services relating to major development proposals and other strategic planning applications, ensuring all statutory requirements and best practices are met. Planning Performance Agreements (PPA’s) are central to our delivery of major growth, and you will be responsible for managing and developing the process. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact, ensuring our planning services support growth while protecting Buckinghamshire’s natural, built, and historic environment.

The successful candidate will work closely with the other Major and Area Team Leaders and Major Development Manager, alongside stakeholders, providing strategic direction, performance management, and expert advice to elected members and committees. If you have a passion for planning and a track record of delivering results, we want to hear from you.

As one of the largest Council’s in the country Buckinghamshire covers an area of 724sq miles to the west of London and is one of the England’s ‘Big 8’ Council’s.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous four district authorities with the County Council to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

At Buckinghamshire Council we are dedicated to delivering high-quality planning services to the residents of Buckinghamshire. The Major Development Management team is responsible for the performance management of Major applications across the whole of the Buckinghamshire Council area with a focus on the use of PPA’s in which we have established an innovative approach. This role will work collaboratively with the rest of the Development Management to provide strategic direction and vision for the service to all stakeholders. The team also plays a crucial role in planning appeal inquiries and providing expert advice to elected members and committees, ensuring that the planning process is transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the community.

In addition to their technical expertise, the Development Management Team is committed to fostering a collaborative and customer-focused approach. They work closely with various stakeholders, including other council departments, local communities, and external bodies, to achieve key planning outcomes. The team is proactive in driving service improvements and adopting innovative practices to enhance productivity and service delivery. With a strong emphasis on performance management and continuous professional development, the Buckinghamshire Council Major Development Management Team alongside the Development Management Area Teams strive to maintain a resilient and adaptable service that meets the evolving needs of the residents and supports the Council’s strategic objectives.

As a Major Team Leader you will lead a team of specialist professional staff to ensure the delivery of expert advice in relation to strategic growth, major applications and to meet the council’s legal and statutory duties.

Your role will involve driving service improvements and innovation, including digital transformation and customer self-service. to support the delivery of an efficient planning service that meets customer needs, enhances productivity, and delivers high-quality service. You will also lead cultural change initiatives in line with the Council’s strategic objectives.

You will be responsible for the performance management of the Major Team, working collaboratively with other Development Management Team leaders. This role requires strong leadership and project management skills, particularly for large, long-term projects ensuring timely and detailed delivery which will have PPA’s at their core. Additionally, you will provide expert advice, prepare reports, and brief elected members, including representing the team at Cabinet and Council meetings when necessary.

We are seeking a highly experienced and ambitious Major Team Leader to join our team and be part of a forward-thinking, supportive planning service. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in development management, particularly in PPA’s and handling major planning applications, and a clear understanding of the impact of current and emerging policies on Planning Policy and Local Plans. With significant experience in leading and developing a high-performing Planning team within a Local Planning Authority environment, you will be adept at managing complex planning applications, planning appeals both inquiries and hearings, and working collaboratively with members, including portfolio holders, committees, and working groups.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build, mentor and lead a team, influence stakeholders at all levels, and deliver high-quality planning policies, strategies, reports, and presentations. You will have a proven track record of delivering major applications, operating within budgets, and implementing innovative ideas to enhance service levels. Strong organisational and project management skills are essential, along with a positive, results-focused approach and the flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.

In this role, you will also be responsible for managing information, including personal and sensitive data, and handling Freedom of Information requests. Your excellent written and oral communication skills will enable you to advocate and influence effectively in various settings, including public inquiries. A commitment to continuing professional development and a customer-focused mindset are crucial, as is the ability to work with diplomacy and political awareness. If you are a strategic thinker with a solution-focused approach and a passion for delivering high-quality planning services, we would love to hear from you.

Charles Power, Major Development Manager at Buckinghamshire Council said, “As a Development Management Team Leader at Buckinghamshire Council, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable communities while advancing your own career. This position offers mentoring opportunities, and leadership pathways alongside the chance to support and develop your team. With a strong focus on staff growth and collaborative working, you’ll help deliver high-quality planning outcomes while building the expertise and experience within the department.”

With a strong and supportive senior management team behind you, you’ll play a key part in helping us achieve our Planning and Environment Service plan and drive forward our vision as a unitary authority.

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

The team currently work a hybrid working style with a mandatory 2 days a week from one of the 3 office locations with the main office base being Queen Victoria Road Offices, High Wycombe.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well‑being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness and inclusion for everyone.

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Buckinghamshire Council is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.