Location
Romford, London Borough of Havering

Hours
Full Time - standard local government working hours with some evening meetings and site visits as required

Salary
Grade 9 - £54,267 to £58,461 per annum

About the Role
Are you an experienced planning professional ready to advance your leadership career? The London Borough of Havering is seeking a Deputy Team Leader - Planning Applications to support the delivery of an ambitious Development Management service during a period of significant growth and investment. Working alongside the Planning Applications Team Leader, you will help ensure high-quality planning decisions that shape Havering's future.

In this role, you will manage and operationally deliver a busy Planning Applications Team responsible for determining over 2,700 planning applications annually. You will deputise for the Team Leader when required, supervise planning officers, manage a complex caseload, and contribute to the strategic direction and continuous improvement of the service.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence development across the borough, work on challenging and high-profile applications, and help deliver growth and regeneration aligned with the Havering Local Plan.

Key responsibilities include:
- Assisting in leading and managing the Planning Applications Team and deputising for the Team Leader
- Managing and determining complex and strategically important planning applications
- Supervising and supporting planning officers to develop a high-performing team
- Preparing and presenting reports on major and controversial applications to Planning Committee
- Providing high-quality pre-application advice and negotiating planning obligations
- Representing and defending the Council's decisions at appeal
- Working closely with councillors, developers, consultants and local communities
- Contributing to service planning, performance management and continuous improvement initiatives
- Fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve successful project outcomes

Experience
- Significant experience dealing with complex planning applications and development management matters
- Experience supervising, mentoring or managing staff within a planning environment
- Strong knowledge of planning legislation, planning policy and local government processes

About you
- Ability to combine technical expertise with effective leadership skills
- Excellent negotiation, communication and report-writing skills
- Ability to make sound decisions within politically sensitive and complex environments
- Commitment to delivering excellent customer service and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion

Qualifications
- A fully RTPI-accredited degree with at least four years' relevant post-qualification experience, or a degree in another discipline with at least five years' relevant post-qualification planning experience
- Eligibility to become a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)