This role involves working with the Assistant Director of Planning and Regeneration to deliver the Development Plan on time, overseeing the Planning Strategy and Implementation Team, and supporting various projects in South Essex. The successful candidate must have excellent influencing skills, the ability to build strong relationships, and experience as a Policy Manager or Team Leader, to support the team during a period of change.
Client Details
Basildon Borough Council is one of the largest local authorities in the East of England region and serves a population of approximately 172,000 people. The town of Basildon is regarded as a key economic hub with the main areas of employment being engineering, research and development, distribution and financial services. Basildon is also the second biggest economy in the Thames Gateway, outside of Canary Wharf.
Working for Basildon Borough Council means making a practical and positive difference to the lives of people living and working in the Borough and provides a fulfilling career.
Each of our employees - whatever job role they are undertaking - can feel motivated by having a unique opportunity to use their skills to make Basildon a better place to live. Whether it is conserving our countryside, by regenerating our Borough, by housing our residents or by collecting the refuse on time.
Description
- Deliver professional/managerial expertise advice on the planning aspects of programmes and projects under the remit of the Assistant Director. To ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory and best practice requirements and guidelines.
- The postholder will lead and manage the work of the Planning Strategy and Implementation Team ensuring the efficient operation of the service in accordance with statutory and legislative requirements and the corporate objectives of the council (including budgets).
- To be responsible for leading the preparation, review and delivery of all aspects of the development plan, associated guidance and other planning implementation requirements, including developer contributions.
- To work with the Development Manager to negotiate with developers with regard to the policy and financial aspect of developments including contractual arrangements such as quotes, financial processes and reviews to ensure development site viability, sustainability and deliverability.
- Promoting the council's aims and objectives, engaging with key partners, stakeholders and staff at all levels to promote understanding of the Council's corporate objectives.
- To provide expert input into external funding applications, bid submissions in response to opportunities to secure third party funding for projects or activities under the remit of the Assistant Director. External funding opportunities could be for several millions of pounds.
- The postholder working with the Assistant Director will seek to promote excellent performance management and support corporate change and continuous improvement initiatives, finding innovative, affordable and sustainable solutions to improve the Services performance and develop the organisation.
- To be responsible for information relating to budget management in respect of the Planning Strategy and Implementation Team, including financial reviewing and reporting processes. This includes monitoring all planning obligation income and ensuring it is spent in accordance with infrastructure priorities, with regular review and reporting.
Working with the Assistant Director on any reviews required by the Council in relation to Planning and Regeneration and/or other services as requested. Implement any recommendations for improving the service arising from such reviews
Profile
- To be successful in this post you must possess extensive local government experience in a planning policy environment where you have provided high level advice in a corporate setting.
- Key skills must include project, resource and people management coupled with strategic planning experience.
- You must able to show clear evidence of effective financial management and commercial acumen, successfully aligning demand with resources with demonstrable evidence of having successfully participated in complex change programmes and projects.
Job Offer
Working along the Assistant Director of Planning and Regeneration this role will be pivotal in delivering the Development Plan within a set timescale, being responsible for all aspects of the Planning Strategy and Implementation Team and supporting the team in achieving these goals.
You will also be responsible for identifying and verifying benefits from the development plan and future wider South Essex plans, projects and programmes. Several projects will be underway at any given time and the added value of these projects to the Borough will range enormously and therefore the successful candidate must be adaptable to the needs of both the Development Plan and the Regeneration and Growth Agenda of the borough.
It is vital that the successful individual has excellent influencing skills and can quickly build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You must be confident in manner and able to work at pace whilst supporting a team through a period of change. If you have worked previously as a Policy Manager or Team Leader within a policy department this role could be a great match to your skills.