Suffolk County Council’s (SCC) Planning Team are seeking to recruit a highly motivated Development Manager who is looking to grow the knowledge and experience of the team.

The role will be based at Endeavour House, Ipswich, but we are now able to explore hybrid working options, including some home working to promote a healthy work-life balance, but also meeting business and service need.

• Do you want to lead a Development Management Team mainly determining major planning applications? 
• Do you have experience of dealing with complex and contentious planning applications?
• Would you like to be part of a team dealing with one of the highest number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in the country?

Your role

You will:

• focus on all stages of development management, from pre-application through to monitoring and enforcement
• ensure the planning discussions are made within the agreed times and according to best practice procedures.
• keep development management policies and processes responsive and up to date
• work towards SCC being within the upper quartile of authorities determining planning applications on time
• finalise committee reports and undertake committee site inspections
• deputise for the Head of Planning when required
• as the manager for a team of five, be committed to promoting career development and demonstrate a best practice approach within the planning team
• be responsible for implementing new biodiversity requirements in determining planning applications and working alongside policy and ecology colleagues to ensure that the measures are delivered
• key in developing the planning teams future goals and aspirations.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

You will be working within a self-motivated, supportive, and friendly team that has a strong commitment to personal and professional development. You will be expected to lead by example and provide a positive best practice approach within your role.

As part of the Planning team, you can also be involved in broader activities such as implementing new processes for other teams, like sustainable drainage and NSIPs of which Suffolk has one of the highest number in the country. You can also participate in how the service delivers the council’s aim to be net-zero by 2030. 

Please take some time to look through our Growth, Highways and Infrastructure business plan for 2021-22 to see what we are involved with via https://view.pagetiger.com/ghi-business-plan-2021-22/1

Working within the Planning Team will provide you with:

• opportunity to enhance the experience in managing a development management team
• experience of working with major projects
• learning from a range of professionals beyond the team such as Highways, Public Health, Archaeology and Education.

We will offer you:

• support from the Head of Planning and team when required
• regular performance reviews, Continuing Professional Development and Personal Development Plans to enhance career development
• flexible working options
• an attractive pension package
• opportunity to further experience in managing a Development Management team.

Travelling requirements for your role 

Frequent Travel Essential - We positively encourage the use of technology to communicate and engage, but in this role, you will need to travel, so you must either hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability to meet the travel requirements of this role, please speak with the contact detailed below.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact James Cutting, Head of Planning on (01473) 264803.

How to apply:

To apply and for further details, please visit:

https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_1004/job/2703

Closing date: 11.30pm, 23 January 2022.

Due to the current situation with COVID-19, we have strict limitations on staff working in our offices and most of us are being asked to work from home.  If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements, please contact the recruiting manager listed above.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.