Vacancies

Head of Development Management and Enforcement

About the role

About the role

Our Development Management & Enforcement service is part of the Growth and Regeneration service group within the Place and Economy directorate. This new role is responsible for providing the strategic direction and management of the service, reporting directly to the Assistant Director.

North Northamptonshire’s Development Management & Enforcement service is a product of local government reorganisation which took place across Northamptonshire in 2021. We have brought together the four former district and borough Local Planning Authority functions and we are busy working our way through a transformation programme to create a single high-performing planning service for North Northamptonshire.

You will have a key role working with the Assistant Director to shape the future direction of the service, including the development of strategies that will deliver the transformation of the service, including its digitalisation, harmonisation of business processes and delivering continuous improvement.

North Northamptonshire is a high-growth area offering an exciting opportunity for professional development. With six sustainable urban extensions in differing phases of delivery, a wealth of large commercial and industrial development proposals and everything in between, you will find this job both challenging and rewarding. That is why you will need to bring a strong background in planning management, extensive experience in dealing with complex and contentious planning matters and fresh thinking about how a high-quality service can be delivered in the most efficient and cost-effective way to make the most of this great opportunity to shape the new single service.

What will you be doing?

What will you be doing?

As the strategic lead for Development Management & Enforcement you will be accountable for the successful delivery of all day-to-day functions provided by the service.

In late 2022, we worked with the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) who reviewed how we work and how we could join what were previously 5 local planning teams together. We have been working towards implementing the recommendations provided. In 2024 PAS were invited to review our progress towards achieving our vision, and implementing their recommendations.

The Council is committed to making further improvements to our planning service. This transformation is overseen by our Planning Improvement Board made up of a cross-party group of elected Members.

You will play a pivotal role in supporting this aspiration by leading work to:

harmonise our processes and procedures so all of our residents and users receive a consistent service
bringing all of our IT systems together so staff can work consistently and provide a flexible, efficient service for our residents and users
improving our performance data reporting so we can understand what’s working well and what needs improving
redesigning our staff structures to ensure we have sufficient capacity and skills to deliver an efficient and effective planning service
improving our user content to ensure it’s clear, consistent and relevant

You will:

Provide professional and technical guidance and advice to the Assistant Director, corporate leadership team, elected members and members of the public.
Develop and implement plans and strategies to transform the council’s services, building partnerships across the council and with external stakeholders.
You will lead the team to deliver consistently high performing, cost effective and robust services and provide high quality places across North Northamptonshire.
Manage change within the service and build and maintain an enthusiastic and committed workforce with a “one team” approach.
Recognise and react to changes in legislation, guidance and best practice to ensure the effective implementation of any necessary changes.
Represent the council on development management and enforcement issues in countywide, regional and national forums.

About you

About you

Experience of working at a senior level, such as a Service Manager, for an English Local Planning Authority
Knowledge and understanding of the dynamics and complexities of public sector and local government
Practical knowledge and understanding of Planning, with a focus on Development Management & Planning Enforcement.
Extensive experience dealing with complex and/or contentious planning matters and politically sensitive issues
Significant experience of negotiating with developers to agree developer contributions, Planning Performance Agreements etc.
Knowledge and experience of how to effect cultural and behavioural change, developing high performing teams.
Management experience including: budget management, recruitment and managing formal discipline matters and grievances.

If you are looking to further your career in a large complex organisation that can provide you with a range of career experience then we’d love to welcome you to our friendly team.

For an informal discussion about the role or to find out more information, please contact Graeme Kane, Assistant Director for Growth and Regeneration.

Email: Graeme.Kane@northnorthants.gov.uk

Interviews are expected to be held week commencing 27 January 2025.

Our benefits

We offer:

a competitive salary
a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

Established in April 2021, we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country.

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

a competitive salary
a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our Key Commitments

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.

We aim to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)

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