Strategic Technical Lead (Majors) in Aylesbury

Are you a strategic thinker with deep technical planning expertise? Do you thrive on solving complex challenges and influencing major development outcomes? Are you ready to drive strategic technical leadership in a dynamic planning and environment service? We’re seeking a highly experienced, passionate and forward-thinking Strategic Technical Lead to join our Planning and Environment team at Buckinghamshire Council. This is a unique opportunity to lead on some of the Council’s most significant and complex planning projects, including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), and to shape the future of development across Buckinghamshire.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Major and Area Team Leaders and Major & Development Managers, alongside stakeholders, providing strategic direction and expert advice to elected members and committees. Planning Performance Agreements (PPA’s) are central to our delivery of major growth, and you will be responsible for managing and developing the process alongside the Team Leaders. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact, ensuring our planning services support growth while protecting Buckinghamshire’s natural, built, and historic environment. If you have a passion for planning and a track record of delivering results, we want to hear from you.

About us: Buckinghamshire Council is one of England’s ‘Big 8’ unitary authorities, covering 724 square miles of diverse landscapes and communities. We are a forward-thinking organisation, committed to delivering high-quality services and sustainable growth. Our Planning and Environment service plays a vital role in delivering the Council’s strategic objectives. The Majors Development Management team leads on complex planning applications, Planning Performance Agreements, and strategic infrastructure, working collaboratively with internal teams, developers, and communities to deliver high-quality outcomes.

This role will work collaboratively with the rest of the Development Management to provide strategic direction and vision for the service to all stakeholders. The Development Management Team also plays a crucial role in planning appeal inquiries and providing expert advice to elected members and committees, ensuring that the planning process is transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the community. The team is proactive in driving service improvements and adopting innovative practices to enhance productivity and service delivery.

With a strong emphasis on performance management and continuous professional development, the Buckinghamshire Council Major Development Management Team alongside the Development Management Area Teams strives to maintain a resilient and adaptable service that meets the evolving needs of the residents and supports the Council’s strategic objectives.

About the role: As a Strategic Technical Lead, you will provide expert leadership and technical guidance on complex and high-profile planning projects, ensuring the Council meets its statutory obligations and delivers on strategic objectives. You will act as the technical specialist within the Planning and Environment service, driving best practice and innovation across major applications, strategic growth initiatives, and nationally significant infrastructure projects. Your role will involve shaping and influencing planning outcomes at a local and regional level, leading on complex casework and managing multi-disciplinary project teams.

You will champion service improvements, including digital transformation and customer-focused solutions, to enhance efficiency, productivity, and the quality of service delivery. In addition, you will play a key role in cultural change initiatives aligned with the Council’s vision. You will be responsible for managing Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs), ensuring timely delivery of milestones and income targets, while maintaining a technical caseload of your own. This includes preparing and presenting detailed reports, providing expert advice to elected members, and representing the Council at committees, public inquiries, and hearings as an expert witness.

Collaboration is central to this role. You will work closely with Major Team Leaders, senior officers, developers, and stakeholders to negotiate complex agreements and secure infrastructure improvements. Your ability to think strategically, manage risk, and develop innovative solutions will be critical in navigating politically sensitive and high-profile projects.

About you: We are seeking a highly skilled and ambitious Strategic Technical Lead to join our Planning and Environment team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in development management, with a strong track record of handling complex and strategic planning applications, including Planning Performance Agreements. You will possess in-depth knowledge of planning law, regulations, and the implications of emerging policies on Local Plans and strategic growth.

This role requires exceptional technical expertise combined with the ability to lead on high-profile projects and provide authoritative advice to internal and external stakeholders. You will act as the Council’s technical reference point, representing the authority at committees, public inquiries, and hearings, and influencing outcomes on major developments and nationally significant infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions in a complex and politically sensitive environment.

Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential, enabling you to engage effectively with developers, elected members, and community stakeholders to secure infrastructure improvements and deliver strategic objectives. This position is about collaboration and influence—helping to set best practice, offering technical expertise, and supporting colleagues while managing important casework and contributing to policy development, service improvements and digital transformation initiatives. A commercially minded approach, combined with experience in risk management and income generation, will be key to success in this role.

Other information: The team currently works a hybrid working style with a mandatory 2 days a week from one of the 3 office locations with the main office base being Queen Victoria Road Offices, High Wycombe. Interview date: To be confirmed. Interview-type / process: In person.

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Charles Power 01494 421513 or charles.power@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. To apply please click on the 'apply button'.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Our values and culture: We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy. By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect a fair and inclusive culture, the chance to really make a difference to those around you, health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops, a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group, ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us, opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events.

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation. From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments. We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit: Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property. Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services. It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you: Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.