Head of Strategic Planning - REQ006059

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Job Title: Head of Strategic Planning
Salary: Dir 60% (JNC Terms & Conditions) £79,938.72 - £87,722.06
Location: Leeds (Hybrid working available)
Contract: Permanent, Full Time

About Leeds City Council

Leeds is one of the UK’s largest and fastest growing cities, with bold ambitions to be a healthy, inclusive and sustainable city, delivering significant growth that benefits all communities. As a Core City, major regional centre and national economic driver, Leeds is leading transformative regeneration, infrastructure investment and place based growth across the city and wider region. Leeds has plans to re-shape and double the size of its City Centre, including through the South Bank regeneration area, which is a proposed New Town.

Planning & Sustainable Development plays a critical role in shaping Leeds’ future - driving inclusive growth, supporting housing delivery of over 3,500 homes per annum, responding to the climate emergency, and ensuring high quality places for generations to come.

We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About the Role

Leeds is a growing, ambitious and forward thinking city. As one of the UK's leading core cities, our planning agenda plays a critical role in shaping the places where people live, work, invest and thrive. We are now seeking an exceptional Head of Strategic Planning to lead one of the most influential planning functions in the country.

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of the Council’s strategic direction. You will provide clear, collaborative and confident leadership across our Policy & Plans and Environment & Design Groups, ensuring Leeds continues to deliver high-quality plan-making, place-shaping and strategic growth.

What You’ll Do

As Head of Strategic Planning, you will:

Lead the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the Council’s statutory planning frameworks, including the Local Plan, design codes and evidence base.
Shape and drive programmes of strategic significance aligned with the Council’s priorities, ambitions and organisational plan.
Provide expert leadership on longterm place strategy, environmental quality, sustainable development and spatial visioning.
Work collaboratively across the Planning & Sustainable Development Service, the wider City Development directorate and corporate teams to respond effectively to crosscutting city challenges.
Build strong and influential partnerships with regional and national bodies, including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, government agencies, neighbouring authorities and key stakeholders.
Ensure Leeds remains a well planned, well designed and sustainable city through leadership in policy, design, conservation, landscape, ecology and environmental planning.
Champion innovation, evidence based decision making, service modernisation and organisational learning.
Lead, motivate and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a positive, inclusive and high performing culture.

About You

We are looking for a strategic leader who can bring:

Significant senior experience in spatial planning, urban policy, planmaking or a related field.
A strong track record of leading complex programmes, influencing senior stakeholders and developing highperforming teams.
Deep understanding of planning legislation, national policy, design quality, environmental policy and strategic growth.
Excellent communication, political awareness and partnershipbuilding skills.
A commitment to inclusive growth, climate action, high-quality place-making and improving outcomes for communities.
The ability to think strategically while delivering operational excellence.

Why Leeds?

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Apply Here: Head of Strategic Planning - Apply Here

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact:

Martin Elliot, Chief Planning Officer at martin.elliot@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose - Provide effective leadership and management, working in partnership with others, to meet the needs of the city’s residents, elected members, the council’s staff and broader stakeholders, ensuring the delivery of all relevant strategic outcomes and objectives.

Responsibilities -

Take lead and be responsible for implementing the service plan and drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate management teams.
Support the delivery of programmes of strategic significance to the Council in order to deliver services in line with Council & Directorate priorities.
Drive a programme that delivers the Council’s ambitions, in terms of time, budget, quality, quantity and that fits with the Council’s wider strategic goals and values.
Work as a team for Leeds by developing and maintaining good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.
Work co-operatively with other teams in Planning and Sustainable Development, in the City Development Directorate and corporately to effectively respond to cross cutting issues within the Council as defined by the Chief Planning Officer.
Work collaboratively and build consensus with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on a range of strategic planning matters and projects.
Collaborate with the Head of Development Management and the Head of Building Control to ensure effective implementation of the Council's policies and responsibilities with regard to the functions of the service.
Deputise as appropriate for the Chief Planning Officer and contribute as part of the relevant management team to the strategic and operational development of the service.
Work with elected members, service users and community representatives in ways which support open, inclusive, responsive and accountable government.
Provide appropriate strategic advice relating to the work of Strategic Planning and the Directorate to Members and council officers so as to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
Provide statutory planning related services, particularly in relation to development and neighbourhood planning and related policy matters in accordance with all the appropriate legal and statutory requirements and to the standards and timescales agreed within the Directorate.
Provide specialist landscape, arboriculture, biodiversity, acoustics, climate change, urban design, conservation, gazetteer advisory services to other parts of the Directorate, the Council and as appropriate external agencies.
Ensure consistent and high quality advice is provided to elected Members at Development Plans Panel and Executive Board meetings.
Lead and act as ‘Project Champion’ in delivering appropriate key development proposals as part of the corporate/inter-agency development team culture.
Ensure timely, consistent and high quality decisions are achieved in Strategic Planning services and to manage performance in order to achieve all Government and Council targets.
Prepare evidence for and be an expert witness on behalf of the Council, at Public Inquiries, hearings and Examinations.
Manage staff, resources and services within the Strategic Planning function.
Motivate, develop and performance manage staff within the Strategic Planning function.
Undertake duties in relation to people management policies.
Within a number of service areas, to take responsibility for maintaining effective communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with Council good practice and with regard to implementing e-government objectives.
Lead, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and equality in all aspects of your service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
Accountable for the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with Legislation and the Council Health and Safety Policy.
Accountable for delivering the service within the approved budget and for obtaining value for money, actively involved in preparing, managing and controlling budgets and take responsibility where appropriate for assigned budgets.
In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for developing appropriate, proportionate and effective financial solutions to be implemented across the service.
Management of a number of substantial budgets within assigned service area through effective delegation and shared decision making demonstrating sound financial scenario planning and a cost-conscious approach to the development of business cases to support service transformation. You have a thorough understanding of the issues facing the Council within its economic, business, cultural and political environment. Plans are in place to ensure that there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources, employees are effectively employed and budgets are maximised.
Actively drive continuous improvement initiatives, including digital transformation, through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate Management Teams.
Work flexibly as required to meet Directorate and Corporate priorities.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications - Appropriate professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through significant managerial experience across the service area.

Working Context - Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role.  The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements - Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Able to demonstrate examples of managing services, implementing change and achieving quality transformational outcomes.
Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.
Detailed knowledge and understanding of the English planning system, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
Substantial senior leadership and management experience relevant to the area of service delivery
Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront.
Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations.
Evidence of significant experience and commitment in relation to the engagement of relevant citizens, customers and stakeholders in decision making processes.
Significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence

Behavioural & other Characteristics required -

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

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