The Development Management department at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is dynamic, high performing, fast paced and plays a fundamental role in shaping the attractive and varied townscapes and environments of the Borough. The team operates on a positive and “open for business” approach, with good working relationships with elected Members.

The culture of the Planning Service is one which supports staff as they develop, and provides great opportunities to progress their careers within the Service. This is reflected through a number of recent internal promotions which, combined with some retirements and relocations of staff, have provided a number of openings in the Service.

These are truly exciting times for Development Management as proposals for a number of key sites within the Borough are coming forward, and rapid progress is being made on the new Local Plan, which will include progressive strategic and allocation policies, and provide opportunities to work on some exhilarating planning proposals in the very near future.

The Council will also be moving to new offices within the heart of Tunbridge Wells in a couple of years time, which are being constructed together with a new theatre. Further information on the office and theatre is available here: http://calverleysquare.co.uk/. Planning Services will be working on an increasingly agile and flexible basis in the coming months and years in preparation for the move to the new office.

The Deputy Development Manager posts are key to the department and wider Planning Service. They form part of the Planning Services Management Team and involve managing one of three teams:

• A small team responsible for the majority of major applications, including a significant proportion of the postholder’s time spent on their own case load of major applications, or;
• A larger team of Planning Officers, Senior and Principal Planning Officers and the enforcement/compliance officers, or;
• A larger team of Planning Officers, Senior and Principal Planning Officers and the conservation/heritage and urban design officers.

The Deputy Development Managers work closely with one another, the roles will be allocated based on the particular skills and experience of the post holders: we are therefore seeking candidates who would be interested in managing any of the three teams.

They would be ideal for someone currently managing a planning team, or an experienced planner in either the public or private sectors who is looking to make the next step in their career.

Additional benefits for this post include 26 days annual leave (increasing to 29 days after 5 years Local Government service), membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme as well as invaluable training opportunities for continuing professional development.

This is a politically restricted post.

Closing Date: 20^th January 2019

Interviews: 1^st February 2019