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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic planning team and deliver high-quality regulatory services to local authorities.
- Company: Capita Local Public Services, a forward-thinking consultancy with a focus on excellence.
- Benefits: Home-based role with travel, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career advancement in a supportive and innovative setting.
- Why this job: Shape the future of planning while leading a talented team in a consultancy environment.
- Qualifications: RTPI membership, degree in Town Planning, and strong leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Capita Local Public Services is looking for an experienced Head of Planning to lead our Planning function - a role that effectively operates as the Head of Planning within our professional consultancy. This is an exciting opportunity to shape, grow and lead a planning team delivering high‑quality regulatory services into local authorities across the UK.
As the Head of Planning, you will lead a multidisciplinary planning team of around 19 people, including Development Management planners, Principal Planners, Planning Managers and a small Planning Policy team. You will drive operational excellence, ensure high‑quality project delivery, and support the commercial performance of the function. This is a senior leadership role requiring strong planning expertise, team leadership capability, and the ability to operate in a commercial consultancy environment. Important: This is not a local authority Head of Planning role. You will be leading a consultancy‑based planning team that provides development management, policy work, and planning expertise into local authorities. This is a home‑based role with regular travel required to our Belfast and Manchester offices (typically weekly or as needed to support team relationships and delivery).
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading the full planning team (approx. 19 people) across Development Management and Planning Policy
- Providing day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, 1:1s, performance management and resource oversight
- Ensuring high standard delivery of regulatory planning services into local authority clients
- Supporting project delivery where needed, including occasional hands‑on DM or policy work
- Contributing to forecasting, commercial reviews and fee proposal development
- Driving quality, utilisation and operational efficiency within the team
- Representing the Planning function within the consultancy and supporting wider business priorities
What We're Looking For
- Essential RTPI membership
- Degree in Town Planning or a closely related discipline
- Strong experience in regulatory planning (local authority OR consultancy serving local authorities)
- Demonstrated management and leadership experience
- Minimum 5 years relevant experience
Head of Town Planning in Peterborough employer: Capita
Contact Detail:
Capita Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Town Planning in Peterborough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the planning sector, attend industry events, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Familiarise yourself with their recent work and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to shine, so practice common interview questions and have your own questions ready to show your interest!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! In your conversations, highlight your experience managing teams and driving project success. We’re looking for someone who can inspire others, so share specific examples of how you’ve led teams to achieve great results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us. Let’s make this happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Town Planning in Peterborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the Head of Planning role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant regulatory planning work to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about planning and how your background makes you an ideal candidate for leading our multidisciplinary team.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role is all about leading a team, be sure to include examples of how you've successfully managed and developed teams in the past. We want to see your coaching and performance management skills in action!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Capita
✨Know Your Planning Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your regulatory planning knowledge, especially in a consultancy context. Be ready to discuss your experience with local authorities and how you've successfully led planning teams in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your management style and how you've coached and developed your team. Think about specific situations where you’ve driven operational excellence or improved project delivery.
✨Understand the Consultancy Environment
Familiarise yourself with the differences between working in a local authority and a consultancy. Be prepared to explain how you can adapt your approach to meet the needs of local authorities while driving commercial performance.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges in planning. Think through potential scenarios related to team dynamics, project delivery, and client relationships, and be ready to share your thought process.