Lead Officer - Development Management

Employer Kingston Council Location(s) Kingston, Other Other Location Hybrid working model Workplace Type Hybrid Working Contract Type Permanent Working Hours Full Time Grade K Hours Per Week 36 Salary Range £59,511 - £65,181 Salary Basis Per annum Leave Entitlement 30 days Final date to receive applications 01/03/2026, 23:55 Anticipated Interview Date(s) Please refer to the timetable on our recruitment website, managed by Penna.

Found in zone 6 with good transport links in and out of London, Kingston is a vibrant and diverse university town which creates the rich sense of community shared across the borough and its Residents. Kingston boasts an idyllic riverside location, good shopping and great restaurants, as well as a mix of modern and historic town centre. Kingston has lots of open parklands and cycle routes that help connect the district town centres into an enjoyable place to live and work.

We are passionate about working closely with our residents and vulnerable groups to help them maintain their independence and create a balance between support and independent living.

• Lead and coordinate the full planning process across all application types, from householders to major, strategic and sensitive developments.
• Provide authoritative professional advice on planning legislation, the London Plan and Kingston’s Local Plan.
• Take a leading role at Planning Committee, Member briefings and design reviews, delivering clear, balanced and defensible recommendations.
• Project-manage Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs), negotiating deliverable programmes and milestones.
• Act as a key interface between developers, Members, senior officers, statutory consultees and community stakeholders.
• Lead negotiations on Section 106 agreements, affordable housing, viability and infrastructure delivery.
• Champion design quality, placemaking, climate-positive development and inclusive growth.
• Act as expert witness at hearings and public inquiries for major applications.
• Line manage and support Principal, Senior and Planning Officers, providing coaching, direction and quality assurance.
• Support service modernisation, performance improvement and digital transformation, deputising for the Head of Planning when required.

• Degree in Town Planning or a related built-environment discipline.
• Chartered Member of the RTPI (or eligible for chartered membership).
• Extensive experience managing major and complex planning applications, ideally within a London or high-density urban authority.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing multidisciplinary teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Proven experience of Planning Committee work and high-level Member engagement.
• Strong track record in negotiating planning obligations, viability and infrastructure contributions.
• Excellent knowledge of planning legislation, national policy, the London Plan and best practice.
• Outstanding communication, judgement and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage risk and complexity.

As a Lead Officer, you’ll role‑model Kingston’s STAR values — being Supportive
, Transparent
, Appreciative and Respectful - and help foster a positive, high‑performing planning culture.

Join us and help shape Kingston’s future — delivering confident planning decisions, high-quality places and sustainable growth in one of London’s most dynamic boroughs

Lead Kingston’s Growth. Champion Quality. Shape Our Places.

We’re looking for an exceptional planning leader to join Kingston as Lead Officer – Development Management. This is a pivotal senior role at the heart of one of London’s most ambitious and complex planning environments, leading the delivery of high-quality, sustainable development that meets the needs of our communities.

Kingston is a borough of contrasts and opportunity — historic neighbourhoods, sensitive heritage assets, ambitious regeneration programmes and significant housing and infrastructure pressures. You’ll work at the forefront of this change, leading complex planning decisions and helping shape places that are resilient,…