Strategic Planning Manager — Lead Local & Policy

Salary £54,495 to £59,005 pay award pending

Bolton's Local Plan is heading to submission, examination and adoption. You will lead it there. By the end of 2027, you will have taken the Plan through examination to adoption and shaped the spatial strategy that follows it.

• Lead the Planning Strategy team, give evidence at examination, and work directly with members, developers, statutory consultees and sub-regional partners.
• Oversee the Council's Land Charges service and lead Bolton's contribution to Places for Everyone and the wider Greater Manchester spatial planning agenda.
• Integrate into managing the team with support of the Planning Strategy Advisor and Principal Planners.
• Maintain a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and ensure a specified level of spoken English.

• Current valid UK driving licence.
• Relevant degree or equivalent qualification.
• Planner with depth in plan-making: grasp of national policy and ideally experience in a Green Belt authority or an authority with complex development challenges.
• Experience in leading planning policy work streams and managing people.
• Experience of Local Plan examination is ideal but not essential.
• Direct, calm under scrutiny, credible in a public forum.
• Interest in Bolton and commitment to making a real difference in the Borough.
• High-performing Principal Planner ready for formal management.

• Exclusive rewards and benefits including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Generous annual leave allowance.
• Flexible work opportunities.
• Access to a Pension Scheme.
• Range of employee wellbeing and support services.