Area Planning Manager

Location: Shropshire / Hybrid

Pay: £360 per day

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: 6-month maternity cover

Start Date: 14 September 2026

End Date: 5 March 2027

Hybrid Working: Part-remote attendance varies depending on service requirements, averaging approximately one day per week on site.

We are recruiting for an experienced Area Planning Manager to join a busy Development Management service on an initial six-month maternity cover contract. This is a senior-level planning position, responsible for managing a professional planning team, overseeing complex development management work and providing authoritative planning advice to senior management, elected members and other key stakeholders.

The Role

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing an area-based Development Management team
• Directly managing Principal Planning Officers and providing wider leadership to Planning Officers and Assistant Planning Officers
• Managing team performance, workloads and resources
• Acting as the lead professional officer at Planning Committees
• Leading the assessment and determination of large and complex planning applications
• Providing senior professional planning advice to Members, applicants and stakeholders
• Supporting and deputising for the Planning and Development Services Manager
• Ensuring robust, timely and consistent planning decisions
• Providing professional planning advice on corporate and strategic development projects
• Overseeing applications under the Town and Country Planning Acts and associated legislation
• Preparing and presenting reports and attending committees, public inquiries, court hearings, site visits and other meetings as required

About You

This is a senior appointment and candidates will need substantial Development Management and leadership experience. Essential experience includes:

• Extensive experience of development management and associated regulatory processes
• Proven experience leading and managing teams of professional staff at a senior level
• Significant experience in a senior professional or managerial planning role
• Experience managing performance and quality assurance
• Strong experience engaging and negotiating with planning professionals, agents and stakeholders
• Ability to operate confidently and sensitively within a political environment
• Strong leadership, decision-making and people-management skills

Qualifications

Candidates should be educated to degree level or equivalent in a development-related discipline, hold an appropriate professional qualification, or have relevant training and experience providing an equivalent level of competence. RTPI membership or membership of an equivalent recognised professional body is desirable.

Additional Requirements

You will need:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong report-writing and presentation skills
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work to tight deadlines
• Full UK driving licence
• Access to a vehicle for business use
• Flexibility to work from home and attend the primary work base or other locations when required

This would be an excellent opportunity for an experienced Area Planning Manager, Development Management Manager, Principal Planning Manager or senior Development Management professional looking for a well-paid interim assignment.

Please apply with an up-to-date CV clearly demonstrating your Development Management, complex planning application and senior team leadership experience.