Planning Policy Team Leader

Grade 11, £51,201 - £57,238 (including local weighting) + £3,500 Market Supplement*. Full time, 37 hours per week (part-time working and job share considered). Permanent. Blended working available. Based in Hertford. Closing date 8 December 2023.

We are currently seeking a committed Planning Policy Team Leader to oversee the creation of the policy framework that guides development decisions in the district.

This role is more than a job; it's an opportunity to leave your mark on the landscape of East Herts. With a fresh era of political leadership and an imminent review of our Local Plan, you'll have a chance to shape our future right from the start. And as the ninth busiest planning team in the country, you'll encounter a stimulating and diverse workload that delves into a wide array of policy challenges and issues.

East Herts is more than just a place of work; it's a thriving and picturesque district, rich in history and natural beauty, featuring over 3,000 listed buildings. We're committed to continuous improvement, striving for more affordable housing, a vibrant local economy, a greener, sustainable environment, and enhanced digital capabilities.

If you share our vision for East Herts and have a proven track record in producing planning policy documents, we want to hear from you. Join us in providing an exceptional planning service and be part of our journey towards a brighter, more sustainable future for our district.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Leading on the review of the District Plan, including evidence development, policy drafting and public engagement. Working on the development of supplementary guidance and masterplans. Understanding the statutory functions undertaken by the Policy Team and ensuring they are delivered on time and to a high degree of accuracy. Effectively leading a team of policy officers, keeping them motivated, on task and helping to develop their skills.

About you:

This role would suit a planning policy professional with knowledge and experience in plan-making. You should be comfortable in taking a leading role in the Planning Policy Team, providing professional advice, working on the review of the District Plan and delivering other statutory functions. The successful candidate will need to be aware of new and proposed changes to planning policy and legislation.

Candidates will need to have experience working in a plan-making team, with a preference for those with extensive experience working at local planning authority level.

The right candidate must work effectively with a range of stakeholders, demonstrate excellent project management skills, as well as a willingness to take the initiative. The ability to produce concise reports and explain complex planning issues clearly to a wide range of audiences is also essential.

As well as demonstrable technical and professional abilities, you will need strong interpersonal skills. This includes being able to motivate a team of staff and possessing good communication skills, a commitment to delivering excellent customer service and achieving the best outcome for residents. The ideal candidate will be highly organised, with the capacity to prioritise different tasks to ensure that they are delivered on time and within budget. A proven track record of successfully leading teams is required.

An understanding of emerging digital requirements to the planning system is also beneficial, with a strong desire for candidates to be able to make use of new digital technologies, in order to help deliver a modern planning service.

How to apply:

For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact either Sara Saunders, Head of Planning on 01992 531656, or Claire Sime, Service Manager for Planning Policy on 01992 531626.

Closing date: Friday 8^th December at midnight.

Interviews will be held on: 18^th and 19^th December 2023.

If you are ready to make a difference and lead a talented, dedicated team, we would love to hear from you, please apply via the button shown.

If your application has been successful, the recruiting manager will contact you to invite you to an interview. We hope you enjoy the process and look forward to making contact with you very soon.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing diversity and maintaining a firm commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We believe that creating inclusive environments leads to stronger collaboration and better outcomes in our work.

*In line with their pay policy, EHC will review the application of the Market Forces Supplement annually, and if warranted, will make adjustments in liaison with affected staff.