Principal Development Management Officer x 2

The Oxford Street Development Corporation has been established to lead the long-term regeneration and transformation of Oxford Street and its surrounding area to deliver a world-class public realm and safer, cleaner streets, and to support high-quality development, culture and economic activity that keeps the area thriving. Our OSDC Board is setting out the strategic direction of the organisation and brings diverse insight and cross-sector expertise including retail, property, leisure, fashion, music, theatre, media, law and politics. You will be joining a rapidly growing organisation fully dedicated to restoring Oxford Street to its former glory and to shape its exciting next chapter.

About the role

The Principal Development Management Officer will play a key role in development management matters within a new planning service being created as part of the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC). The Development Corporation will cover a strategically important area within Central London, focused on Oxford Street. The job will require a leading role in the assessment of complex, high profile planning applications within the Development Corporation area, ensuring decisions align with strategic regeneration objectives, statutory requirements, and relevant planning policy. This role will support the Head of Planning Delivery and Place Shaping by contributing to the efficient, effective and proactive delivery of the OSDC development management function. The role holder will provide expert planning advice and professional leadership to officers, members, applicants, and stakeholders, shaping high-quality design-led development that enhances Oxford Street’s role as a world-class retail, cultural, and commercial destination.

What your day will look like

• Manage and assess a diverse caseload of planning applications in accordance with agreed performance targets by ensuring prompt registration and validation, consultation with stakeholders and compliance with statutory requirements.
• Prepare written reports for decision securing positive planning outcomes that contribute to the delivery of planning and regeneration objectives for Oxford Street.
• Proactively evaluate pre-application proposals, advising on planning policy compliance, the form and content of planning applications, procedural matters and all other relevant planning issues and negotiating Planning Performance Agreements as appropriate.
• Line manage Senior Planning Officers and other planning staff as appropriate and supervise their work on planning applications and pre-application proposals.
• Attend Planning Committee as required and provide planning advice and briefings to members, officers and senior management.
• Prepare evidence and represent OSDC at appeals, hearings, inquiries and court proceedings as necessary.
• Contribute to the effective operation, development and improvement of OSDC’s planning service, including planning policy, guidance, procedures, service development and professional stakeholder management.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Possession of an appropriate planning qualification with eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute together with good post qualification experience in planning.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully managing own caseload, including major planning applications and the associated discharge of conditions.
• Good knowledge of planning issues, statutory development management processes, planning policies and the legislative framework.
• Sound understanding of the working environment of a local planning authority.
• Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders.

COMMUNICATING AND INFLUENCING … is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication.
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well-thought-through arguments.
• Negotiates effectively to deliver OSDC priorities.
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement.
• Advocates positively for the OSDC both within and outside the organisation.

BUILDING AND MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS … is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people; and sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 3 indicator of effective performance

• Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support OSDC objectives.
• Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities.
• Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict.
• Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect.
• Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership.

DECISION-MAKING … is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

Level 2 indicator of effective performance

• Takes decisions as necessary on the basis of the information available.
• Makes decisions without unnecessarily referring to others.
• Involves and consults internal and external stakeholders early in decisions that impact them.
• Identifies potential barriers to decision-making and initiates action to move a situation forward.
• Demonstrates awareness of the OSDC’s decision-making processes and how to use them.

PLANNING AND ORGANISING … is thinking ahead; managing time, priorities and risk; and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 2 indicator of effective performance

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables.
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones.
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work.
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard.
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met.

This role is based at 19-23 Wells Street, London W1T 3PQ.

Equality, diversity and inclusion: London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part-time work as this role is open to job share. Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible.

OSDC staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest-free season ticket loan, interest-free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information: Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.