Development Manager - Planning

What’s involved with this role: Interim Development Manager – PlanningReference no: Rochdale 0009 8C5B / 1Pay Rate: £24.58 per hour PAYE 37 Monday – Friday, normal working hoursThis opening assignment is for 5-6 monthsCity: ROCHDALEHybrid workingKey Responsibilities:

Lead the Development Management Service in providing a professional, efficient and cost effective service that meets all legal and policy requirements, performs above national and corporate performance targets and standards, and is transparent and accessible to customers.

Assist the Head of Planning in the development and maintenance of effective links with other Council services, partner organisations and external stakeholders to secure the regeneration of the Borough, and in communicating the value added by the Planning Service.

Apply policy broadly, innovatively and creatively and take the lead role in negotiations on major and complex planning applications and legal agreements with applicants and developers, local communities, other Council services, partner organisations and external agencies.

Responsible for the effective leadership and management of staff within the Planning Service, including the development of effective work, performance, development and support programmes for all staff, and the training of staff on new legislation, guidance and procedures across the service.

Display a high level of professional competency, maintain a thorough and up to date knowledge of legislation and guidance and apply this to ensure legally sound, quality and enforceable recommendations and decisions in accordance with legislation, the development management framework and Delegation Scheme.

Ensure compliance with service quality management procedures, checking reports and ensuring robust recommendations, enforcement authorisations and decision notices for planning applications to be determined under delegated powers, or by Township Planning Sub Committee and/or the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

Ensure the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members and Officers dealing with planning matters is fully complied with.

Attend and provide professional advice on applications to be determined by Township Planning or Licensing and Regulatory Committees, or support other Committees, partnerships, public meetings or working parties of the Council, as may be required by the Service Management Team.

Advise the public, developers, other professional groups, organisations and individuals and other Council Services, Members of the Council and Members of Parliament on development management issues and procedures offering advice and guidance, including the initiation of correspondence, on such matters in accordance with Service and Council policies and objectives.

Integrate enforcement and development activity providing effective and timely advice to enforcement staff on the need for, and appropriate use of, enforcement powers relating to complaints received by the Service, checking files and cases to authorise the taking of enforcement action under delegated powers where expedient.

Key requirements:

Recognised qualification in Town Planning or equivalent, affording full exemption from the Final Examination of the RTPI

Knowledge of legislation, policies, best practice and emerging guidance relating to all aspects of a development management service, including the effective use of enforcement and heritage controls

Experience of managing development management, enforcement, heritage and technical support teams to deliver high levels of performance and project delivery

Previous experience of managing budgets, or interpreting financial information

Experience of working across Council services and partner organisations, and with local communities, as part of multi disciplinary teams, to deliver major projects through the development management system, including the negotiation of planning obligations or other community gain

Performance management experience, and how you have managed staff, performance and change to deliver service improvement, efficiency and transformation

Experience of supervising the work of others, including making effective use of enforcement controls, to ensure quality work and robust recommendations produced and decisions taken to meet service and legislative requirements

Committee experience, and of preparing and presenting the Council’s case at planning/enforcement appeals and public inquiries

Experience of investigating and responding to complaints made relating to the work of the service, including enforcement work and Ombudsman cases, and an example where you took corrective action

Examples of how you have personally applied planning policies broadly, innovatively and proactively to resolve complex planning issues, including persuading others to a particular view

Ability to develop positive working relationships with colleagues, developers, elected Members and local communities

Ability to lead and manage others, and provide an example where you personally took positive and corrective action to resolve a poor performance issue

Ability to utilise electronic information systems, databases and files, and an example of your ability to exploit innovation in service delivery

Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.Clients are generally looking for candidates who are local to, or