Head of Development Management & Enforcement
Senior Leadership Role | Major City | Strategic Planning & Delivery
Shape a city. Influence investment. Lead at scale.
Location: Liverpool
Interim role: 24 weeks
Service Area: Planning and Building Control
We are seeking an outstanding planning leader to take on a high‑impact role at the heart of a major city’s growth and regeneration agenda. As Head of Development Management & Enforcement, you will lead a complex, high‑profile planning function, balancing commercial awareness, political sensitivity and professional excellence to unlock development and deliver quality places.
This is a role for someone comfortable operating at pace, influencing senior stakeholders, and driving performance across a large, multi‑disciplinary service.
The Opportunity
You will own the end‑to‑end leadership of Development Management and Enforcement, ensuring the service is commercially aware, customer‑focused and outcomes‑driven. Working closely with senior leaders, elected members, developers and partners, you will play a critical role in shaping how the city grows.
Key elements of the role include:
* Strategic leadership of Development Management and Enforcement, setting direction, priorities and standards across the service.
* Acting as the senior point of contact for major and regionally significant developments, leading negotiations from pre‑application through to determination and delivery.
* Driving a pro‑growth, business‑friendly planning culture while maintaining high professional and ethical standards.
* Overseeing planning committee activity, providing clear, confident and commercially sound advice to members.
* Ensuring Development Management actively supports and delivers the Local Plan, regeneration priorities and wider corporate objectives.
* Leading performance, risk and resource management across the service, ensuring targets are met and value for money is achieved.
* Managing significant budgets, income streams and Section 106 contributions, with a focus on financial discipline and efficiency.
* Building strong, influential relationships across the public and private sectors, including developers, investors, combined authorities and statutory bodies.
* Championing innovation, continuous improvement and digital working to improve customer experience and service delivery.
* Embedding social value, sustainability and inclusive growth into decision‑making and procurement.
Leadership & People Management
* Direct leadership of Development Management and Enforcement Team Leaders.
* Build and lead a high‑performing management team through clear objectives, coaching and accountability.
* Create a culture of trust, learning and professional excellence.
* Lead workforce planning, talent development and succession planning within the service.
* Address performance and behavioural issues with confidence and professionalism.
What You’ll Bring
* RTPI‑recognised degree (or equivalent experience) in Town Planning.
* Substantial senior‑level experience managing Development Management services within a large, complex urban authority.
* Proven track record of leading major and complex planning applications, appeals and enforcement activity.
* Strong commercial awareness and the ability to balance growth, quality and compliance.
* Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with confidence operating in political and high‑pressure environments.
* Experience of driving service improvement, performance management and cultural change.
* Post‑qualification training in leadership, urban design, heritage or related disciplines.
* Highly developed negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
* Strong digital and information management capability.
* A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with the credibility to operate at senior and regional levels.
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