Development Management Lead Officer in Malvern

As the Development Management Lead Officer, reporting to the Head of Development Management, you will provide leadership and direction to a team of planning and enforcement officers within the Council's Joint Planning Service. This varied and rewarding role involves operational leadership for Development Management, ensuring the effective day-to-day management of planning application processing, enforcement coordination and service performance across the joint service.

You will play a key role in delivering an efficient, high-quality planning service, ensuring workloads are effectively managed and that performance targets and service standards are achieved across the Development Management teams. The role will involve acting as lead officer for Planning Committees, presenting applications and advising Members on planning matters, making recommendations based on planning policy and other material considerations. You will also be responsible for reviewing officer reports and recommendations and issuing planning decisions under delegated authority where appropriate.

Working closely with colleagues, applicants, agents, members of the public and other stakeholders will be essential. Strong communication skills and the ability to engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders are therefore essential, alongside a commitment to delivering an excellent and responsive planning service.

The two councils share a Chief Executive and a joint senior management team, retaining their own political structures and distinct identities. The joint management structure enables us to maximize the opportunity to deliver a wide range of good-value services to our customers and communities, operate and develop shared services, collaborative working and partnership arrangements with each other, other councils and key stakeholders.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional to further develop their leadership skills and contribute to the delivery of an ambitious and high-performing shared planning service.

• Comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of planning law and practice
• Degree-level education with a recognised qualification in town planning, and full RTPI Membership
• Good computer literacy and ability to use MS Office, property databases and GIS systems
• Ability to work under pressure and manage a caseload of complex/contentious planning applications; commitment and desire to succeed and develop within the role
• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Appreciation of good design and ability to negotiate planning obligations within tight deadlines
• Outstanding customer care and a commitment to supporting performance improvement

We are looking for an experienced individual capable of successfully leading a team, providing valuable contributions with a friendly approach. You will be required to attend regular Planning Committee meetings and undertake site visits, so flexibility, a full driving licence and use of a car is essential. You will also need to be able to travel throughout the districts. The role is based at either the Council House, Malvern, or the Civic Centre, Pershore. If you have a preference in your base location, please detail this in your application to be considered. Please note, regular attendance at both offices will be required.

We value skills and the ability to do a great job over identifying personal information, which is why our recruitment process is confidential. Managers review and shortlist applications based on the evidence you provide. It is important to us that we work together to deliver the Malvern Hills Plan and the Wychavon plan, so when applying for a role with us, please help us to understand how the skills and experience you can bring will help us achieve our goals.

Wychavon and Malvern Hills have an ambitious growth strategy, supported by the recently adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR). The Plan sets out a significant programme of growth, delivering over 20,000 homes and 300 hectares of employment land across the area over the next 15 years, including a major new community at Wychavon Town (approximately 10,000 homes). Alongside this planned growth, the Councils are progressing ambitious regeneration programmes for our town centres, including Evesham and Droitwich Spa. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of some of the fastest growing districts in the West Midlands and help deliver sustainable communities supported by new infrastructure, employment opportunities and high-quality places.

• Excellent pension scheme with employer contributions
• Generous annual leave entitlement with options to purchase additional annual leave
• Committed training programme and development opportunities
• On-site nursery with 20% staff discount (Pershore office)
• Discounted gym and swim membership
• Health and wellbeing support and a free employee assistance scheme, including access to counselling services
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discounts with a range of companies, including EE and the Kaarp discount scheme

We are an employer that values face-to-face communication, collaboration and connection. All our roles have an office-based requirement, with some agile working as part of the role. Please note: Malvern Hills District Council does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK. Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils are rewarding places to work, with high levels of resident satisfaction and motivated staff who enjoy working for us. Located in south Worcestershire, both districts boast beautiful natural environments, a rich heritage and plenty to do and see. The districts are ranked as the top two best rural places to live in the West Midlands and are amongst the top 30 in the country. We pride ourselves on being progressive organisations that invest in what matters to our residents and communities – supporting our town centres and rural communities, creating jobs, keeping the streets clean, reducing our carbon footprint, helping people feel safe and preventing homelessness. Working with you, we always aim to recruit and develop the very best talent we can find, offering a satisfying job, generous holiday entitlements, a pension scheme, personal development opportunities and discounted gym membership.