Development Management Team Leader (Majors)

Location: High Wycombe

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional to take on a senior leadership role, combining strategic oversight, team management and involvement in high-profile schemes that shape places and communities.

Buckinghamshire Council is a large unitary authority, delivering services across a diverse area to the west of London. We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to delivering sustainable growth and high-quality placemaking.

Our Major Development Management team operates at scale, managing a strong pipeline of major applications and working proactively with applicants, agents and stakeholders. Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) are central to our approach, supporting delivery and driving performance.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working (minimum 2 days office based)
• The opportunity to lead a high performing majors team and influence service delivery
• Exposure to complex, strategic and high-profile development proposals
• The opportunity to lead on corporate projects and service improvement
• A supportive senior management team and collaborative culture
• Opportunities for career progression and professional development
• A positive work life balance

As a Development Management Team Leader (Majors), you will lead a team of planning professionals responsible for major and strategic applications across a varied and high profile part of the county.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, managing and developing a team of Principal Planning Officers
• Overseeing the determination of major and complex planning applications, including strategic growth proposals
• Managing and developing the PPA process to support delivery of major development
• Providing expert advice to members, committees and senior stakeholders
• Representing the service at appeals, inquiries, Cabinet and Council meetings
• Driving performance, service improvement and innovation, including digital transformation
• Working collaboratively with other team leaders and senior managers to shape service delivery

The role covers a diverse area including parts of the M25/M40 corridor, the Slough data and technology corridor, the Chiltern Hills National Landscape, Green Belt and key towns such as Amersham, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross, offering a varied and challenging portfolio of work.

You will be a confident, highly organised and motivated planning professional with strong leadership capability and a track record of delivering complex development. Applications are welcomed from candidates in local authorities, consultancies or development organisations.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in development management, including major and complex applications
• Experience of leading, managing or mentoring staff and developing high performing teams
• Strong understanding of PPAs and the delivery of large scale development
• The ability to manage competing priorities and drive team performance in a fast paced environment
• Highly organised working practices, with strong project management and attention to detail
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Confidence working with elected members, senior officers and external partners
• Eligibility for (or membership of) the RTPI

You will be proactive, solutions focused and comfortable operating at both a strategic and operational level.

For full details about the role, please refer to the job summary attached.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.