Area Planning Manager

Location: Shropshire / Hybrid
Pay: £360 per day
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: 6-month maternity cover
Start Date: 14 September 2026
End Date: 5 March 2027
Hybrid Working: Part-remote – attendance varies depending on service requirements, averaging approximately one day per week on site

We are recruiting for an experienced Area Planning Manager to join a busy Development Management service on an initial six-month maternity cover contract.
This is a senior-level planning position, responsible for managing a professional planning team, overseeing complex development management work and providing authoritative planning advice to senior management, elected members and other key stakeholders.

## The Role

Key responsibilities will include:

Leading and managing an area-based Development Management team

Directly managing Principal Planning Officers and providing wider leadership to Planning Officers and Assistant Planning Officers

Managing team performance, workloads and resources

Acting as the lead professional officer at Planning Committees

Leading the assessment and determination of large and complex planning applications

Providing senior professional planning advice to Members, applicants and stakeholders

Supporting and deputising for the Planning and Development Services Manager

Ensuring robust, timely and consistent planning decisions

Providing professional planning advice on corporate and strategic development projects

Overseeing applications under the Town and Country Planning Acts and associated legislation

Preparing and presenting reports and attending committees, public inquiries, court hearings, site visits and other meetings as required
## About You

This is a senior appointment and candidates will need substantial Development Management and leadership experience.
Essential experience includes:

Extensive experience of development management and associated regulatory processes
Proven experience leading and managing teams of professional staff at a senior level
Significant experience in a senior professional or managerial planning role
Experience managing performance and quality assurance
Strong experience engaging and negotiating with planning professionals, agents and stakeholders
Ability to operate confidently and sensitively within a political environment
Strong leadership, decision-making and people-management skills
### Qualifications

Candidates should be educated to degree level or equivalent in a development-related discipline, hold an appropriate professional qualification, or have relevant training and experience providing an equivalent level of competence.
RTPI membership or membership of an equivalent recognised professional body is desirable.

### Additional Requirements

You will need:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong report-writing and presentation skills
Excellent influencing and negotiation skills
Ability to manage competing priorities and work to tight deadlines
Full UK driving licence
Access to a vehicle for business use
Flexibility to work from home and attend the primary work base or other locations when required

This would be an excellent opportunity for an experienced Area Planning Manager, Development Management Manager, Principal Planning Manager or senior Development Management professional looking for a well-paid interim assignment.
Please apply with an up-to-date CV clearly demonstrating your Development Management, complex planning application and senior team leadership experience