Head of Strategic Planning

Head of Strategic Planning

Permanent

£60,339 - £65,483

• Report to the Deputy Director Place (Planning) to support GMCA’s strategic planning capacity and work with districts, colleagues across GMCA, and external partners to develop policy and projects, delivering the Greater Manchester Strategy ambitions.
• Head the strategic planning team and discharge statutory planning functions on behalf of the Mayor, including the preparation, consultation and adoption of the Mayor’s statutory Spatial Development Strategy and other statutory joint plans such as the GM Joint Minerals and Waste plan.
• Lead the strategic planning input to the housing first unit and accelerate housing growth to meet GM residents' needs, developing strategic relationships with Government and other stakeholders.
• Work in partnership across Greater Manchester and promote the region in regional and national networks.
• Commission and manage research and intelligence projects and oversee substantial budgets for key projects such as the spatial development strategy.

• Recognised degree in planning or a relevant subject, or equivalent.
• Significant and current UK experience in a strategic planning or related policy environment.
• Recent experience in UK local government with knowledge of opportunities and constraints in the current operating context for local authorities.
• Experience supporting policy development, implementation, and monitoring; preparing written reports, briefings, and presenting reports; communicating outcomes.
• Skills in direct line management.
• Ability to manage complex partnerships involving public, private and third sectors.
• Critical thinking and the ability to communicate complex messages to a range of stakeholders.

We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of age, disability, trans status, non‑binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities.

Hybrid working scheme: a flexible arrangement that combines office, local authority offices or community sites with remote working, depending on business needs. The appointed individual will work with the manager to agree and review the best working pattern for the role.