“Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.” “INTERNAL ONLY - This vacancy is only available for internal applicants and agency workers with over 12 weeks service.”
We are seeking to appoint an Interim Service Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure for up to 12 months to provide visible, strategic leadership across a broad and high-profile portfolio within the Growth Directorate. Applications are invited from existing Plymouth City Council employees only.
Reporting to the Strategic Director for Growth, you will lead the development and delivery of the Council’s strategic planning and infrastructure agenda, including planning, housing, transport, highways, climate change, major capital projects and the alignment of infrastructure with the city’s growth ambitions.
This role carries statutory responsibilities and requires confident leadership across complex, multi-disciplinary services. You will act as the Council’s principal adviser on planning, infrastructure and capital investment matters within your remit, working closely with elected Members, CMT, SLT and key partners locally, regionally and nationally.
Key Areas Of Focus Include
* Strategic leadership of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure service
* Delivery of statutory planning and infrastructure functions
* Oversight of significant capital and infrastructure programmes
* Financial stewardship of the departmental revenue and capital budgets
* Driving performance, continuous improvement and customer focus
* Building strong partnerships to support economic growth and connectivity
* Embedding climate change and sustainability priorities across the service
* Ensuring robust governance, risk management and compliance
* Leadership of the Council’s ‘New Town’ proposition and the City Living Framework.
We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong track record of managing complex services, delivering change, and operating effectively in a political environment. The ability to translate strategic ambition into deliverable plans, manage competing priorities and lead high-performing teams will be critical.
This is an important interim leadership role at a time of continued organisational change, and the successful candidate is expected to play a positive role as part of the Directorate Management Team in shaping the future direction of the Growth Directorate.
For more information or an informal discussion regarding this role, please contact Di Byrne via email - diana.byrne@plymouth.gov.uk.
Closing date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation. As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.
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