We are looking for a Head of Planning to join our team based in the Manchester.

Purpose of Role:

To ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Acquisition & Planning department. Developing innovative ways of working and motivating the team to perform at their optimum level. Effectively liaising with other managers within the business to ensure efficiencies are carried across into other areas.

General Description of Job:

• Apply a well-rounded knowledge of the planning system, GPDO and national planning guidance documents, in order to form strategies and relay this information to colleagues and clients;
• Where business needs necessitate, undertake desktop acquisition and planning research for input into site search appraisals;
• Where business needs necessitate, undertake desktop acquisition and planning research for input into site search appraisals, produce and submit the necessary planning documents accompanied by written statements to justify proposals for planning submissions in accordance with the planning system, GPDO and national planning guidance documents. Monitor applications, liaise with the case officer, respond appropriately in good time and attend committee meeting where necessary. Review and interpret planning conditions and report immediately on any planning decisions;
• Where business needs necessitate, organise, and attend site visits, liaising with site owners and their agents;
• Where business needs necessitate, undertake appeal viabilities, and submit written representation appeals. Monitor live appeals and report decisions to project managers and clients;
• Manage the handover pack process once necessary milestones have been complete;
• Provide updates on individual sites to project managers and clients on sites where there are significant escalations required, ensure information is updated on site tracker and client tools;
• Be directly responsible for the day-to-day management of your team, including task allocation, maintaining quality of Planning activities;
• Responsibility to provide professional discipline related guidance to an allocated individual;
• High-level project strategy and resource allocation; Work with the PM team to ensure adequate resource allocated;
• Undertake appraisals and mentor those that are more focused on your own specialism, identify training needs, support journey to chartership, and act upon all individuals welfare and wellbeing needs;
• Ability to handle difficult situations and escalations in a patient, calm and effective manner;
• Identify primarily Acquisition & Planning business opportunities from both internal Fand external companies where possible and communicate these to Directors;
• As necessary, provide input and support to work tenders.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

• Be directly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Acquisition & Planning team, including task allocation, making sure they are busy, maintain high quality work and driving throughput;
• Work alongside the Head of Acquisition in meeting the demands of the department, collaborate on any direct reports and as directed, participate in Senior Management meetings;
• Provide strategic acquisition and planning advice and ways forward during client meetings;
• Develop and maintain a close relationship with clients to ensure the company can react and respond to market changes;
• Ensure a strong focus on customer satisfaction, deliver efficient, accurate and cost-effective solutions to our clients;
• Develop, retain, discipline, and motivate employees to meet business objectives;
• Foster a culture of open communications and teamwork that strives for continuous improvement;
• Ensure all company standards relating to Health, Safety, the Environment and Quality are maintained, implemented, developed, improved and championed;
• Keep up to date with changes to the planning industry, legislation, and best practice standards in order to develop improvements and innovations to ways of working;
• Apply commercial acumen and awareness of good financial practice, minimise operational expenditure within the business wherever possible and maximise rate cards;
• Ensure adequate and suitably qualified resource is available and allocated to meet project demands, including interview.

Key Attributes: 

• Open and approachable with maturity for dealing with more junior members of staff enabling the ability to impart knowledge in a practical manner;
• Be able to undertake work and communicate in a professional manner in line with Acquisition & Planning key traits of a professional document;
• Ability to efficiently plan and programme work including allocating appropriate resources;
• Knowledgeable in quality, environmental and health and safety requirements;
• Excellent standard of written, spoken English and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent commercial acumen and awareness of good financial practice;
• Ability to delegate and manage own workload effectively;
• Clear thinker and good decision maker;
• Calm under pressure;
• Flexible and responsive;
• Meticulous attention to detail;
• Ability to identify and action process improvements;
• Ability to communicate accurately, concisely and with confidence at all levels;
• Encourages others to achieve the highest standards;
• Ability to handle difficult situations and escalations in a patient, calm and effective manner
• Maintains harmonious communication levels within areas of responsibility;
• Enjoys working collaboratively;
• IT literate and proficient in the use of MS Office packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc