Planning Policy Manager Ref: 34-24

Salary: Grade 4, (£54858 - 64429 per annum)
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Place of Work: Dereham (remote-enabled)
Basis: Permanent

Would you like a job where what you do:

• Makes a difference to the communities of Breckland, plan positively for growth whilst balancing the needs of the environment and local people.
• Allows you to contribute to the wellbeing of the built and natural environment to benefit the communities and business within the district.
• Creates opportunities to lead and mentor a team to deliver the primary document to control growth and development within the district.

We are seeking a Planning Policy Manager to manage the planning policy service which is currently responsible for producing an updated Local Plan as well as the delivery of an annual programme of planning policy work and overseeing the successful delivery of a wide range of projects.

Planning and Development: We regulate the use of land in the public interest and provide a framework for the delivery of sustainable homes and jobs for Breckland residents in the long term.

You will:

• Deliver effective management for the day-to-day operation of a team of planning professionals
• Project manage, prepare and review the Statutory Local Plan, supplementary planning policy documents and other planning policies having regard to National and Regional Planning policies.
• Manage Planning Examinations in connection with the Local Plan, representing the Council in person as an expert witness at these, co-ordinating other legal work, liaising with property owners, developers, stakeholders, partnership bodies and interested parties
• Act as lead officer for the Local Plan in terms of Member and Parish engagement.
• Provide support and advice to the development management team, on strategically important planning applications, enforcement and appeals;
• Ensure support is provided for the production of Neighbourhood Plans throughout the production process including new designations for neighbourhood areas.
• Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.
• Assist the Director in the effective management of budgets and resources including the disbursement of the Local Plan budget.

About you:

Collaborative

• You look for opportunities to coach, support and mentor people both inside and outside of your own team or discipline.
• You encourage individuals and teams to work, learn and deliver together, making sure people feel trusted, valued, informed and supported.

Ambitious

• You are motivational and drive positivity, taking an optimistic approach: engaging others and giving individuals the space and freedom to be creative
• You actively encourage innovation. If things go wrong, you see that as an opportunity to learn and develop. You act as a role model, leading by example: motivating, influencing and inspiring others.

Results-driven

• Your team are clear on what they need to achieve. You recognise good performance and take the time to thank, praise and celebrate achievements.
• You look for opportunities to develop people and nurture future talent. You delegate work effectively and thoughtfully, giving everyone a chance to shine.

Empowering

• You make sure individuals have control and a sense of purpose about their work. Work should make people feel good. You stamp out any instances of blame - individuals are accountable, but we do not look for a person to blame.
• You empower everyone to work in the most effective way, trusting in their ability to deliver, and encourage individuals to have the confidence to challenge in a safe space.

Supportive

• You help create an environment where individuals feel comfortable to be themselves and where they feel heard, included and valued.
• You promote and regularly check on individual's mental health and wellbeing. When individuals are finding things hard, you give them chance to talk and give them the help and support they need.

OK, I'm interested...but is it really the job for me?

As our Planning Policy Manager, you will have:

• Experience of working in planning in a public or private sector environment;
• Management of, or substantial demonstrable involvement in, the delivery of a Local Plan
• Management or supervisory experience within a planning policy environment
• Knowledge of current planning legislation, regulations and guidance relevant to planning policy
• Proven experience of working effectively in a team and working to common goals
• The ability to consider a wide range of complex issues and balance those issues to make a clear and reasoned judgement
• The ability to use your own initiative to solve challenges working as part of a team and under

Closing date: 9am Monday 5th August

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2023 staff survey to convince you..

• 94% of our staff said they felt valued
• 99% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 90% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 97% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 98%  said they felt supported by their Manager

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays)
• Free car parking.
• Remote-enabled working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office. See what it is like working here by watching this short film: 
  

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

Job summary

Description of duties

Primary Functional Objectives of the Role

• To deliver effective management for the day-to-day operation of a team of planning professionals
• To project manage, prepare and review the Statutory Local Plan, supplementary planning policy documents and other planning policies having regard to National and Regional Planning policies.
• Manage Planning Examinations in connection with the Local Plan, representing the Council in person as an expert witness at these, co-ordinating other legal work, liaising with property owners, developers, stakeholders, partnership bodies and interested parties
• Act as lead officer for the Local Plan in terms of Member and Parish engagement.
• To provide support and advice to the development management team, on strategically important planning applications, enforcement and appeals;
• To ensure support is provided for the production of Neighbourhood Plans throughout the production process including new designations for neighbourhood areas.
• To ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.
• To assist the Director in the effective management of budgets and resources including the disbursement of the Local Plan budget.

Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.

Primary Line/Performance Management Objectives of the Role

• To ensure delivery of the Local Plan in line with the agreed Local Development Scheme

Primary Leadership Objectives of the Role

• Direct responsibility for the effective management and day to day operation of the Planning Policy Team under the direction of the Director of Planning and Building Control

This job description is not an exhaustive range of tasks and responsibilities and is subject to the changing requirements of the Council.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working in planning in a public or private sector environment;
• Management of, or substantial demonstrable involvement in, the delivery of a Local Plan
• Management or supervisory experience within a planning policy environment
• Knowledge of current planning legislation, regulations and guidance relevant to planning policy
• Proven experience of working effectively in a team and working to common goals
• The ability to consider a wide range of complex issues and balance those issues to make a clear and reasoned judgement
• The ability to use your own initiative to solve challenges working as part of a team and under direction
• The ability to prioritise and proactively manage workloads to key deadlines
• The ability to manage external contractors to budget and timetable.
• Good verbal and written communication skills with experience of preparing reports and presentations

Desirable

• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint etc.)

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject

Desirable

• Membership of a relevant professional body
• A formal management or business qualification
• Evidence of training or experience in senior management

Behaviours

Collaborative

• I look for opportunities to coach, support and mentor people both inside and outside of my own team (s) or discipline.
• I encourage individuals and teams to work, learn and deliver together.
• I make sure people feel trusted, valued, informed and supported.

Ambitious

• I act as a role model, leading by example: motivating, influencing and inspiring others.
• I am motivational and drive positivity.
• I take an optimistic approach: engaging others and giving individuals the space and freedom to be creative.
• I actively encourage innovation. If things go wrong, I see that as an opportunity to learn and develop.

Results-driven

• I recognise good performance and take the time to thank, praise and celebrate achievements.
• I delegate work effectively and thoughtfully, giving everyone a chance to shine.
• My team are clear on what they need to achieve.
• I look for opportunities to develop people and nurture future talent.

Empowering

• I make sure individuals have control and a sense of purpose about their work. Work should make people feel good.
• I stamp out any instances of blame - individuals are accountable, but we do not look for a person to blame.
• I empower everyone to work in the most effective way, trusting in their ability to deliver, and encourage individuals to have the confidence to challenge in a safe space.

Supportive

• I help create an environment where individuals feel comfortable to be themselves and where they feel heard, included and valued.
• I promote and regularly check on individual's mental health and wellbeing.
• When individuals are finding things hard, I give them chance to talk and give them the help and support they need.

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

• The postholder is part of a small team and therefore the post holder needs to demonstrate ability to deal with frequent interruptions and demands on a daily basis.

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role please contact Simon Wood - Director of Planning and Building Control by emailing simon.wood@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date - 9am Monday 5th August

APPLY ONLINE

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce which reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies - these are listed as essential requirements on the person specification (within the Recruitment Pack).