3 month contract role with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• The Lead Officer – Minerals & Waste Planning is a senior leadership role responsible for managing and delivering the Council’s statutory minerals and waste planning functions.
• This includes overseeing planning policy development, development management, and associated services such as planning archaeology and ecology.
• The postholder will lead a specialist team, ensure compliance with national and local planning frameworks, and drive high-quality, customer-focused services that support sustainable development and the circular economy.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Lead and manage the Minerals & Waste Planning team, including policy and development management functions.
• Oversee the preparation, submission, adoption, and review of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan.
• Ensure compliance with planning legislation, including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
• Provide expert professional advice to senior officers, elected members, and stakeholders.
• Represent the Council at committees, public inquiries, examinations in public, and external meetings.
• Manage and develop staff, including line management of Principal Planning Officers and matrix team leadership.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, including public consultations and partnership working with neighbouring authorities.
• Oversee the assessment of complex planning applications relating to minerals and waste developments.
• Contribute to strategic planning policy at local, regional, and national levels.
• Support service transformation, digitalisation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage budgets, resources, and performance to ensure effective service delivery.
• Investigate complaints and ensure timely resolution in line with council procedures.
• Deputise for the Head of Policy & Placemaking when required.
Skills/Experience:
• Significant senior-level experience within a Local Planning Authority, specifically in minerals and waste planning.
• Extensive knowledge of the UK planning system, legislation, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
• Proven experience in planning policy development and/or development management.
• Strong leadership and team management experience, including staff development and performance management.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, including working with councillors, developers, and the public.
• Ability to manage complex projects and deliver planning frameworks to adoption.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills, including committee reports and public inquiry representation.
• Commercial awareness and ability to develop services for external clients (desirable).
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and within a matrix management structure.
• Degree in Town Planning or related field.
• Eligibility for Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) (essential).
• Management qualification or equivalent experience (desirable).
Additional Information:
• Bi-Weekly Payments.
• Based at Thrapston (North Northamptonshire Council), with hybrid working (approx. 2 days office / 3 days remote).
• 37 hours per week, typically 09:00 – 17:30.
• Requires attendance at evening/weekend meetings and public events where necessary.
• Travel required across the authority and occasionally beyond.