Deputy Head of Planning Services (Planning Policy) in Bristol

This job is a full-time, permanent opportunity in a flourishing and collegiate team. We are looking for an energetic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic planning policy leader to deliver a local plan under the new system, shape the emerging Spatial Development Strategy for the West of England, and overhaul our suite of existing supplementary guidance documents to ensure they align with current thinking.

If you share our passion for place-making and would like to join a brilliant team in a great city with lots of fascinating planning work, we’d like to hear from you. We welcome innovation, critical thinking and an appetite for dynamic and fast-paced working.

• Lead the production of the local plan in line with new system requirements including progressing towards a digital plan.
• Collaborate with relevant colleagues from the Combined Authority on the Spatial Development Strategy for the West of England and officers from neighbouring authorities on their emerging local plans; ensure timely officer input as required.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation to ensure ways of working are effective in delivering the desired results and as efficient as possible.
• Guide and manage senior policy officers; encourage and support all members of the team in their professional development.
• Provide technical guidance and support to members, stakeholders, the public and colleagues.
• Collaborate with peers within the wider planning service and ensure seamless service provision by supporting planning decisions and enforcement.
• Lead the timely production of relevant monitoring information and improvement of planning data systems.
• Ensure currency and alignment of supplementary guidance with current national and local policy.

• Proven experience in a planning department with a track record of policy development.
• Strong understanding of planning policy and allied legislation including enthusiasm to embrace the new local plan system and associated changes.
• Committed to creating a positive team environment and support team members.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage and prioritise busy workload demands.
• Enthusiastic about innovation and continuous service improvement.

This is a great opportunity to progress your career in a busy city environment. You’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to taking one of the UK’s most dynamic core cities from strength to strength.

Bristol is consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work in the UK. Join us and you’ll enjoy all the benefits of living and working in one of Europe’s most vibrant and best-located cities known for its cultural diversity, with great architecture and stunning views, a host of cultural attractions and a great range of places to eat and drink.

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast-moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles, hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice – mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below. To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification.

We’re a Disability Confident employer. We value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We’ll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.