Principal Planner

Spencer Clarke Group are currently recruiting for a Principal Planner to work in the Slough area. A local authority based in Slough have a fantastic opportunity for a Principal Planner to join their team. Purpose of the role: To provide day to day management of an area team ensuring that they are responsive to customer demands while contributing to the council’s key strategic aims and priorities.  To participate in the strategic management and leadership of the whole service  To lead on and be responsible for complex and strategic planning applications within the Borough and to innovate, identify, co-ordinate and bring about new opportunities to help develop the DM service plan.  To direct and lead enforcement activity to ensure coordinated and responsive outcomes Responsibilities: To direct and lead an effective operational service, including providing a deputising role for the Planning Manager where necessary, and to proactively identify issues and improvements and advance, lead and implement creative solutions particularly digital transformation within the context of current and future service requirements in order to continually deliver high quality, customer focused planning services. To lead, manage, motivate, train and performance manage the work of an area team, and to assist other team leaders when appropriate in dealing with the processing of applications, enquiries and complaints. Responsible for giving highest level professional advice and technical guidance both within and outside of the Council on complex planning matters of all complexities, to ensure the Council fulfils its statutory and regulatory obligations and meets its strategic aims and objectives. To direct and lead the service’s plans to improve early identification and support Directly responsible for ensuring highest level negotiation and dealing with the more high risk, challenging and complex strategic planning applications, including ones of high politically and public sensitivity. To include being directly responsible for writing committee reports and negotiating S106 legal agreements to secure good strategic planning and regeneration outcomes particularly the delivery of new homes, education, community and leisure facilities, along with financial and other community benefits. Support the Planning Manager with specialist development management policy and procedural issues and projects. Making recommendations on planning applications and handling the written and verbal evidence for appeals and to represent the Council at Public Inquiries as an ‘Expert Witness’. Leading and managing enforcement within the team, advising and guiding on planning issues, along with encouraging the development of effective systems for facilitating an integrated approach to enforcement between planning, housing, highways, environmental services and other Council services. To assist the Planning Manager in managing a budget and contribute in the setting of budgets including identifying opportunities to raise income, to secure other funding and take responsibility for audit, procurement and operating within the Councils’ constitution. Contribute to policy work in relation to the Local Plan and associated plans and where required contribute towards the preparation of planning guidance/briefs and other policy documents, foster close working relations with the Policy Team in order to deliver the vision, strategy and objectives of the Local Plan. Active liaison and maintaining good relations with the Business Support team to ensure that processes such as validation, production of decision notices, consultations etc. are carried out efficiency, maximising the use and potential of digital systems. To support the Planning Manager work across departments and with partners to ensure integrated delivery of services particularly through a development team approach and at the strategic planning level to achieve the corporate objectives of the Council. To work as part of multi-disciplinary project teams to enable the breaking down of divisional and departmental barriers and to encourage both internal and external partnership working. Such variations as may be required from time to time without changing the general character of duties shown above or the level of responsibility entailed. Qualifications required: Degree level qualification Corporate Membership of Royal Town Planning Institute Evidence of a commitment to continuous professional development Full driving licence and use of a car A management qualification is desirable Experience/Skills required: Ability to manage change in a complex organisation, experience and evidence of working effectively in a complex multi-disciplinary environment and coping with changing priorities and pressures. Solving problems and being Creative. Ability to analyse, interpret and translate complex data and concepts into understandable language and to present it in an accessible manner to a variety of audiences Ability to use ICT systems in daily work to assist in the processing of planning applications and enquiries including word, excel and outlook. Ability to contribute to the development of the team and understands the way in which this contribution is important to the success of the Development Management Service, the Department and the Council as a whole, in terms of overall service delivery. Ability to plan work organise and the work of a team, ensuring effective delegation and motivation, active handling of staff issues and conflict and the effective use of resources. Has the ability to understand the principle of equal opportunities, apply it to providing and developing an excellent planning service to a diverse range of customers. Ability to lead, motivate and develop staff/contacts in a performance focussed culture. Ability to work collaboratively building trust, mediating, conciliating, negotiating and delegating. Demonstrative effective communication skills. Demonstrate a customer focused and responsive approach that improves service delivery. Ability to use technology to improve business and service effectiveness If your interested in the role and would like to apply please email your up to date CV to or call Chris on (phone number removed)