Head of Place (Planning Services)

Salary: £71,750 - £82,000 per annum, 37 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent contract and pay award pending
Location: Coleford/agile working
Closing date: Sunday 24 November

 

Forest of Dean District Council is passionate about creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our communities. Our priorities are centred on fostering resilient and inclusive communities that are motivated and competent to adapt to the challenges and opportunities ahead.  We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, with a view to protecting and enhancing our superb natural environment and to be carbon neutral by 2030. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital.

Our range of place shaping services are fundamental to the success of the council’s ambition for a Fairer Greener Forest, and we are devoted to leading the response to the climate and ecological emergencies in our area. Our focus is on sustainable development to enable our communities in the Forest of Dean district and beyond to thrive, creating great places for people to live, work, learn and enjoy in our ever-evolving communities. We want our future generations to thrive too and are serious in tackling issues concerning the climate and environmental emergencies and how they relate to planning propositions. Now is a fantastic time to be joining us as we look to deliver upon our council plan priorities and shape our environment for the benefit of the local area and beyond.

About the role

Please do not hesitate to contact me for an informal and confidential discussion on the role: andy.barge@fdean.gov.uk  

We are seeking a dynamic leader to join the Forest of Dean District Council as the Head of Place and engage our communities in shaping the Forest’s future. You’ll bring an energy to and animate the strategic intent of ‘Our Plan’ – the draft Local Plan 2041 - so we are all working together for a better future. This is a pivotal role, inspiring and empowering our planning services team to deliver high-quality services, aligned with council priorities, and ensuring we create thriving communities through collaboration on place-shaping initiatives. You will spearhead our approach to digital planning and your work will tackle climate and ecological emergencies, foster economic prosperity, and improve the quality of life for residents.

As Head of Place, you will provide strategic vision, empowerment, and leadership for our place-shaping services, which include:

• Development management
• Planning enforcement
• Forward planning
• Strategic housing
• Building control
• Specialist services such as ecology and conservation

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for place-shaping services to support the council's objectives and to meet the growth challenges the new NPPF brings, notably for housing.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop and maintain sustainable communities.
• Lead the development of policies and initiatives that address the council’s aspirations for environmental sustainability and economic growth.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, managing workloads, budgets, and resources to ensure teams meet performance objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement across teams, encouraging innovation, collaboration, and excellence in service delivery.
• Act as the council's principal advisor on place-shaping matters, ensuring effective communication and representation in governance matters.

You will need

• Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership within planning, development management, or related fields.
• A proven track record in fostering sustainable community development while addressing environmental challenges.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience managing cross-functional teams and driving high performance.
• Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to engage effectively with elected members, the local community, and external partners.
• Politically astute with a clear understanding of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and local planning policies.
• Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and provide sound professional advice.

Why join us?

This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact in the Forest of Dean by leading sustainable development initiatives and shaping the future of our district. You will have the chance to work with passionate teams and contribute to a vision that values both community well-being and environmental preservation.

Special Conditions

• Full UK driving licence with access to a car for work purposes
• This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament.

What can we do for you

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 26 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
• In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• We support a discretionary Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements

Apply

If you feel this is the role for you please email your CV and supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria above by emailing our Recruitment partners at Publica at join-us@publicagroup.uk or contact the recruitment team on 01285 623319.

Closing date: Sunday 24 November

Your application will not be considered if you have not provided a supporting statement, in addition to your CV.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references;  proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.

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