Planning Team Leader

The role

Are you an urban planning maestro with a flair for planning policies? If so, Southwark Council is calling you to join us as a Planning Team Leader, where your expertise will shape the future of our vibrant community!

Your role is not just important; it's transformative to our borough with many new developments taking place along the river Thames, residential estates at Elephant and Castle, at the former Surrey Docks at Canada Water, and through to Peckham and Camberwell.

Your mission:

• Lead the Planning Policy team, guiding crucial work on Southwark’s Local Plan.
• Collaborate with consultants, partners, and internal teams on policy writing, research, and monitoring.
• Translate complex strategic planning issues into clear and practical development management policies.
• Ensure alignment of policies with both local and national planning goals.
• Uphold the highest standards of decision-making, ensuring our council's actions are transparent, accountable, and legally robust.
• Play a pivotal role in the development and execution of the Corporate Delivery Plan, aligning our strategies, policies, and operational plans with the council's ambitious objectives.
• Your ability to handle complex planning matters with finesse will ensure our council meets its planning objectives and delivers outstanding value to our community.

How will you make an impact

We need a dynamic and experienced planner who is passionate about public service and driven to make a difference who will bring a blend of the following:

• A proven understanding of urban planning issues and the ability to tackle strategic planning with clarity and creativity.
• Strong communication skills to simplify complex issues into effective policy.
• An enthusiastic, customer-first mindset, driven to help shape the future of Southwark’s urban landscape.
• Passion for learning, team development, and making a meaningful impact.
• Able to demonstrate how your insights have contributed to the achievement of strategic Planning goals.
• The capability to work in a fast-paced environment, maintaining high standards of attention to detail while meeting deadlines.

This role offers flexible home working blended with travel into our London Bridge HQ.

About Southwark Council

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Benefits and more information:

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark

Recruitment timetable

• Application closing date: 11.59pm on 10 November 2024.
• Interview date: 19 November 2024.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Attachments

• Job Description & Person Specification