Head of Development Management

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Job Description

Salary: £64,473 - £70,834 p.a. with the addition of an MSP of £3000 p.a. Depending on skills and experience

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

The Service

The Planning Service sits at the heart of the Economy, Planning & Transport Directorate. The main objective of development management is to work with our partners, customers and communities to create places and buildings that improve social, environmental and economic wellbeing. Development management focuses on working closely with developers, using innovative ideas to maximise development opportunities in the city's interest, to reduce risk and to achieve a deliverable scheme.

Through working with our partners in South Hampshire we are the only region to identify a solution to the 'nitrates problem' but this has left us with a legacy of a backlog of applications, exacerbated by the challenges of service delivery during Covid. You will have the opportunity to shape a Development Management service to deliver efficient, sustainable decision making while delivering strategic scale place making developments.

Find out more about our specific projects by watching this short video

https://investportsmouth.co.uk/

Why come and work in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth is a great waterfront city and a vibrant place to live and work. It is an island city with an "inner city" feel, a seaside location packed with attractions and events, and the advantage of fantastic countryside on its doorstep. With a fast-growing university, high-tech industries and a vibrant cultural scene, Portsmouth is a modern city that looks to the future, is proud of its unique heritage as the home of the Royal Navy and historic dockyard. With fast road and rail links to London, Brighton and major airports, and ferry links to Europe, it is the perfect place to live and work.

Testimonials

Ian Maguire Assistant Director of Planning and Economic Growth

Running the Cities Economic Development and Planning services gives me the opportunity to support those links between forward planning and delivering growth and improved places on the ground. Working in a Unitary Authority we have the advantage of close collaboration with property, transport, public health and cultural colleagues to maximise the opportunities from new development. Portsmouth is a city that combines advance manufacturing, modern living, innovative culture and prevalent heritage; all contained mostly in an island of around 40 square kilometres. We are surrounded by valued and protected habitats and wildlife and the challenges of balancing all of these interests means it is an exciting and rewarding place to work. Portsmouth has provided some of the more varied and interested work in my planning career and the chance to work with some of the most dedicated and passionate planners.

Lucy Howard Head of Planning Policy

I started as the new Head of Planning Policy in November 2023 and I am in charge of the new Portsmouth Local Plan. I am relishing the challenge of producing a Local Plan for the UK's only island city and the UK's most densely populated city. Working for the City Council is a real change for me as I was previously Planning Policy Manager for the UK's newest national park, the South Downs and I led on their first ever Local Plan. I used to live in Portsmouth, and it is a place that I am very fond of. The city has a real spirit and there are some truly ambitious projects to get involved with such as the City Centre regeneration and Tipner. I have found both the officers and Members here to be friendly and welcoming.

There are of course challenges including the recruitment and retention of senior officers. There is a good senior management team for Planning & Economic Growth and we are all supportive of each other.

Your new role

The main objective of development management is to create places and buildings that improve social, environmental and economic wellbeing. Development management focuses on working closely with developers to maximise development opportunities in the city's interest, to reduce risk and to achieve a deliverable scheme.

You would be responsible for managing the following functions within the Planning & Economic Growth Service:

• Development Management

• Planning Enforcement

• Contaminated Land

• Section 106 Contributions and Community Infrastructure Levy

You will deliver an efficient and effective customer focussed development management service to deliver sustainable development and growth within Portsmouth. You will also contribute to the sustainable development and long term economic prosperity of Portsmouth and the wider area.

What you'll need to succeed

You will have a relevant planning degree and/or relevant Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. You will also have extensive knowledge of planning legislation and extensive experience of working within a development management environment.

You will also have clear understanding of the role development management plays in delivering regeneration with experience of working with developers, members and other stakeholders in a development management environment.

You will have strong strategic and leadership skills to provide a high quality Development Management service working across multiple areas in a complex environment.

You will be committed to team success and work with others to reach a common goal, sharing information, supporting colleagues and searching out expertise and solutions from relevant partners and/or the communities you serve. You will lead by example through your behaviours and professional approach to work; inspiring your colleagues and driving for positive outcomes for the city

To find out more about us click the link!

Join our planning team - Careers Portal (portsmouth.gov.uk)

What you'll get in return

We are a disability confident employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible and welcome applications from all areas of society.

We really appreciate our employees and fully realise they are essential to our success and look to offer an inclusive, supportive working environment where employees can reach their potential with a healthy work life balance, offering the following rewards:

• A generous pension scheme which allows you the opportunity to pay in more for that greater return.
• Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays and the option to purchase additional leave - 27 days annual leave per year rising to 31, plus the opportunity to purchase up to 10 days additional leave per year (pro rata for part time staff).
• Flexible and hybrid working. Working from home is encouraged, in support of team days in the office subject to service needs.
• A range of rewards via our reward portal including offering discounts at popular high street retailers
• Free Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellbeing support
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities including apprenticeships
• Business travel support and initiatives, including bike loans
• Relocation support

Please check out the link here to view the benefits of working with us!

https://careers.portsmouth.gov.uk/working-for-the-council/

What next

We would love to meet you for an informal chat so you can get to know us before deciding to apply. If this is something you would be interested in then please email a copy of your short CV to Ian Maguire, Assistant Director Planning & Economic Growth, email Ian.Maguire@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. We will contact you to arrange a time to chat about the exciting plans we have and what you could potentially be involved with.

To make sure your application is above the rest, please download the Job Profile HEREto ensure your application matches the requirements of the role.

When completing your application please upload a cover letter or personal statement covering the 'Who is the Person' points on the job profile giving examples of your experience and any transferrable skills.

We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

We will email applicants from time to time; please ensure you check e-mail folders as sometimes our e-mails may go into spam/junk folders.