Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural and coastal areas. The Borough is facing an exciting period of change, with plans for major growth, which brings challenges and opportunities over the next few years for Planning professionals.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, driven individual who, reporting to the Development Manager, would be responsible for leading and managing one of the Development Management teams to ensure that planning applications and agreements are determined in line with planning legislation and Council policies. We endeavour to work co-operatively with developers, applicants, businesses and agents to achieve the best possible outcomes.

As an area Team Leader, reporting to the Development Manager, you will play a key part in the effective delivery of the service, helping to ensure that planning decisions are sound and result in high quality sustainable developments.

As well as managing your own caseload of complex applications, you’ll also manage the work of a team of Planning Officers, offering the technical support and advice to develop others’ capacity and knowledge. You should be confident and able communicator as this role will involve presenting at Planning Committee and acting as the Council’s lead witness at appeal.

You will be responsible for preparing reports and attending briefing meetings, Committees, represent the Council at planning appeals and must have excellent interpersonal skills to represent the Council at all levels and to liaise effectively with other departments across the organisation and externally.

You will be an experienced officer knowledgeable in the field of Development Management and ideally be supervising staff in your present role. You will have a degree level standard of education in a relevant subject and be eligible for full membership of the RTPI, with at least 5 years post qualification experience.

The role requires a strong background in Planning within both urban and rural environments, and you will need to draw from your technical knowledge and experience to keep driving the service forward within the unique and diverse context which Swale has to offer.

This is a key management position within the Development Management team and in addition to essential management skills, we are looking for someone who can lead and inspire staff in a busy, pressured environment. The successful candidate would be expected to be a proactive problem solver and an advocate for high-quality place making, aiming to make a significant difference to the quality of life for those living and working within the Borough.

Swale Borough Council is a great place to work because our staff are dedicated, friendly and passionate. Working for Swale you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills and experience within an organisation that prides itself on supporting its staff. We encourage all types of vocational and technical training & qualifications, including management and leadership programmes. In addition to learning & development, we also offer many flexible working opportunities, including job share, flexi time, nine-day fortnight, compressed hours and home working

This is a permanent, full time position based in Swale House but we would consider applications for flexible working in line with our New Ways of Working Policy.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the post and are ready for a new and exciting challenge in a friendly yet ambitious Local Authority, then we’d love to hear from you.

For further information or to discuss this opportunity in more detail, please contact Andrew Jeffers, Development Manager on 01795 417116

To apply for the position please visit www.swale.gov.uk/jobs and complete the online application form.

Closing date: 18 July 2022.

Interview date: w/c 1 August 2022.

Council Benefits: career average pension scheme, professional fee payment, flexible working (including opportunities for home working and job share), to employee benefits package and generous leave entitlement.