Major Projects Planner

Are you an experienced and ambitious town planner ready to shape the future of one of London\’s most dynamic boroughs? Connect2Hackney, the internal talent team for the London Borough of Hackney, are recruiting a Major Projects Planner to join Hackney\’s high-performing Development Management team. This is a senior role for a planner who thrives on complexity and challenge. You will take the lead on a caseload of the borough\’s most strategically significant planning applications, from pre-application stage through to appeal. Your work will involve negotiating with developers to deliver high-quality, innovative schemes and secure vital community benefits for the residents of Hackney. This is your chance to leave a lasting mark on the built environment, working collaboratively to achieve timely and effective planning outcomes. About the Role As a Major Projects Planner, you will be a senior expert within the team, responsible for managing complex projects and providing specialist advice. You will deputise for senior managers as required and play a key role in the team\’s success. Your key responsibilities will include: Project Leadership: Taking lead responsibility for a full range of complex and strategically important Development Management projects, including major applications and appeals at Public Inquiries. Negotiation & Stakeholder Management: Working collaboratively with developers and stakeholders to resolve potential conflicts and negotiating to secure significant financial and other community benefits through S.106 legal agreements. Expert Advice & Communication: Acting as the Council\’s senior expert spokesperson on Development Management issues , preparing and presenting high-level, complex reports , and representing the Council at committees and other public forums. Team Contribution: Mentoring more junior staff , contributing to the team\’s performance management , and helping to develop a positive and customer-friendly planning service. About You We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced planner with a deep understanding of urban planning issues and a track record of successfully managing major applications. To be considered for this role, you must meet the following mandatory criteria: Qualifications: You must hold a Post-Graduate qualification in Town Planning and have membership of, or be eligible for, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). You will also have: Experience: A minimum of 5 years\’ knowledge of the legislative, policy, and procedural frameworks within which the planning service operates.Extensive post-qualification experience in Development Management. Proven experience negotiating on complex applications to secure community benefits. Experience mentoring staff.Skills & Knowledge: A thorough knowledge of planning law and procedures as they relate to complex applications (including those with Environmental Impact Assessments) and appeals. The ability to produce and present clear, concise, and effective reports, both written and oral. Excellent skills in negotiation, persuasion, and influence. The ability to manage an extensive and demanding workload to meet performance targets with minimal supervision. A working knowledge of relevant IT systems such as Word, planning databases, and GIS. Why Work for Hackney? Join a forward-thinking London borough committed to delivering excellent services. We offer: A competitive salary and a generous Local Government Pension Scheme. A commitment to your continuous professional development. Flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance. The opportunity to work on a diverse and exciting range of major developments. Please note: This post is politically restricted and will require you to be able and willing to attend meetings or undertake work outside of normal working hours. Commercial Services Trading Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy