Overview
Join Buckinghamshire Council’s high-performing Major Development Management team and lead the delivery of some of the most significant and complex development proposals in the area.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional to take on a senior leadership role, combining strategic oversight, team management and involvement in high-profile schemes that shape places and communities.
About us
Buckinghamshire Council is a large unitary authority, delivering services across a diverse area to the west of London. We are forward-looking, ambitious and committed to delivering sustainable growth and high-quality placemaking.
Our Major Development Management team operates at scale, managing a strong pipeline of major applications and working proactively with applicants, agents and stakeholders. Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) are central to our approach, supporting delivery and driving performance.
What we offer:
- A competitive salary and benefits package
- Hybrid working (minimum 2 days office-based)
- The opportunity to lead a high-performing majors team and influence service delivery
- Exposure to complex, strategic and high-profile development proposals
- The opportunity to lead on corporate projects and service improvement
- A supportive senior management team and collaborative culture
- Opportunities for career progression and professional development
- A positive work-life balance
About the role
As a Development Management Team Leader (Majors), you will lead a team of planning professionals responsible for major and strategic applications across a varied and high-profile part of the county.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading, managing and developing a team of Principal Planning Officers
- Overseeing the determination of major and complex planning applications, including strategic growth proposals
- Managing and developing the PPA process to support delivery of major development
- Providing expert advice to members, committees and senior stakeholders
- Representing the service at appeals, inquiries, Cabinet and Council meetings
- Driving performance, service improvement and innovation, including digital transformation
- Working collaboratively with other team leaders and senior managers to shape service delivery
The role covers a diverse area including parts of the M25/M40 corridor, the Slough data and technology corridor, the Chiltern Hills National Landscape, Green Belt and key towns such as Amersham, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross, offering a varied and challenging portfolio of work.
About you
You will be a confident, highly organised and motivated planning professional with strong leadership capability and a track record of delivering complex development. Applications are welcomed from candidates in local authorities, consultancies or development organisations.
You will bring:
- Significant experience in development management, including major and complex applications
- Experience of leading, managing or mentoring staff and developing high-performing teams
- Strong understanding of PPAs and the delivery of large-scale development
- The ability to manage competing priorities and drive team performance in a fast-paced environment
- Highly organised working practices, with strong project management and attention to detail
- Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills
- Confidence working with elected members, senior officers and external partners
- Eligibility for (or membership of) the RTPI
You will be proactive, solutions-focused and comfortable operating at both a strategic and operational level.
For full details about the role, please refer to the job summary attached.
Other information
For an informal discussion, either on-line or in person, contact: Charles Power – 01494 421513 or email [email protected]
This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:
- All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions
For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro
We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.
