Planning Policy Manager (Maternity Cover)

Planning Policy Manager (maternity cover)

£58,818 - £71,412 per annum 

1 year fixed term contract/secondment.

About Us

Newham will offer you a unique working environment within a London borough that is at the centre of many of Europe’s most exciting regeneration projects - including the Royal Docks (the new location for the Mayor of London’s City Hall) and Stratford (where the London Legacy Development Corporation’s planning powers have just returned to the borough).

The Planning and Development service works to shape our borough to deliver 31 Strategic Sites, an Enterprise Zone, large scale and distinctive employment-generating schemes, and major infrastructure projects underway. Alongside delivering the current Local Plan, with colleagues in development management, enforcement and infrastructure planning, the policy team is in the midst of producing a new Local Plan: shaping the borough for the next 15 years. The production of the new Local Plan is a corporate priority for the administration, who are focused on using planning policy innovatively to deliver for Newham residents.

Newham offers many opportunities to work on cutting-edge, large scale and multifaceted projects and on innovative responses to complex issues. Newham is one of the youngest, most diverse, and vibrant boroughs in the UK.  As an inclusive employer, we are committed to ensuring our workforce reflects our local population.  We welcome and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, including applicants who are ethnically diverse and/or applicants who have a disability.

About the Job

This role offers a unique career-defining opportunity to lead the policy team through the examination of its bold new Local Plan. You will be joining the team at the point of submission to central government for examination and following a 3 year work programme of evidence production, engagement and policy drafting to create the submission plan. Supported by an experienced and passionate team of policy planners who have developed the plan, this role will be crucial in helping to ensure an innovative and ambitious plan succeeds at examination.

As well as developing a new Local Plan, the policy team is also producing a new Joint Waste Plan with colleagues in the East London Waste Authorities. We are also involved in the pre-application process for major and other complex sites and works closely with Regeneration colleagues, the GLA and other partners to realise our vision through masterplanning and other delivery-focused projects. The team also has close links with services across the Council, working on joint strategies and supporting delivery to ensure the Local Plan sits at the heart of the Council’s work.

You will also be responsible for the planning service’s transport planners, who provide specialist advice to development management colleagues and provide a critical liaison role between highways and planning. They ensure that the climate, safety and health objectives of our transport policies and critical transport infrastructure are embedded in development management decisions.

The role will lead a team of 10 planners, and have direct line management responsibility for the 2 Principal Transport Planners and 5 Principal Planners, as well as budget responsibility for service and salary budgets.

If you want to help shape this part of London, turning our vision into reality – and leave a lasting legacy for all its communities – come and join the team!

About You

You will be an experienced planner and manager, confident in providing technical solutions and advice, tackling new challenges and flexible in your approach to your work to allow you to adapt and meet the needs of the service. You will be confident in your own abilities but not afraid to be honest if something does not go to plan. You will foster an atmosphere of shared accountability with your team, the wider service and other stakeholders. You should be able to lead, innovate and organise, while also inspiring and nurturing the talent and interest of other team members.

The post requires detailed knowledge and critical understanding of planning legislation and national and regional policy, in particular those relating to local plan development and examination; a robust understanding of the importance of stakeholder and public engagement; and the ability to manage a complex and varied array of tasks and responsibilities to drive forward key projects individually and as a leader. You will have had experience of developing sound local plans, and in particular participating in and supporting others to contribute to examinations in public.

You will be politically astute with an appreciation of London and national politics and implications for planning and infrastructure delivery. You will be confident in communicating complex and technical information accessibly to a range of audiences and build successful professional relationships both within the Council and with external stakeholders.

As a non-negotiable you will be committed to the achievement of equality, diversity and inclusion in both employment and service delivery.

Please note that the qualifications section of the person specification will be used as a minimum short-listing criteria.

Secondments from other Local Planning Authorities and public sector organisations are welcomed.

If you wish to informally discuss the role itself, please contact Ellie Kuper Thomas on ellie.kuperthomas@newham.gov.uk or 020 3373 0828 or Jane Custance on jane.custance@newham.gov.uk or 020 3373 6537.

IMPORTANT: If you are an LBN member of staff and applying for this role as a secondment you should note that secondments are subject to the agreement of your current employing service. Please ensure that you inform your line manager of your intention to apply for the post in the first instance.

Please view JD here

Closing date: 14th March 2025

Applying for this role

Please submit your application via the online portal, including providing details of your education and qualifications and work history. All applications should be accompanied by a supporting statement which outlines how you meet the requirements of the person specification. Your application needs to demonstrate clearly and concisely how you meet each of the criteria. Please give specific examples wherever possible. CVs alone are not accepted.

Please specify if you are applying for this role as a secondment opportunity.

Newham has a flexible working policy and we are open to considering proposals as to the exact pattern of work, such that hours can be arranged around you and your family's needs, as well as our business needs.

Additional information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no m