Development Management Team Leader

Shape the future of Tunbridge Wells

Are you an experienced planning professional with a passion for Development Management? This is your opportunity to step into a pivotal leadership role and make a real impact.

We’re expanding our Development Management team and looking for a Team Leader to help drive forward an exciting period of growth. With the adoption of the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan and Town Centre Plan, you’ll play a key role in shaping the borough’s future.

Why join us?

• Lead and inspire a team of seven planning officers, working alongside another Team Leader and reporting to the Development Manager.
• Influence some of the borough’s most significant developments, including major allocated sites.
• Enjoy a varied role where you’ll mentor, guide and support talented professionals while managing your own caseload.

What you’ll do

• Allocate workloads and manage planning applications.
• Oversee performance, outputs and high-quality report writing.
• Present at committee meetings (outside standard office hours).
• Ensure targets are met and decisions remain consistent and robust.

What we’re looking for

• Experience supervising or mentoring in a planning or development management setting.
• A collaborative, supportive leadership style.
• A commitment to delivering good design and positive planning outcomes.

We’ll invest in your growth with training, coaching and mentoring, because we believe in developing our people.

This is a politically restricted post.

What we offer:

• Financial: An attractive basic salary within a clear pay structure. In addition to your salary, you'll receive a sign-on payment of £5,000 (50% paid on completion of probation and 50% at 18 months). This is for new staff joiners to TWBC, not internal applicants.
• Holiday Entitlement: 26 days annual leave (increasing to 29 days after 5 years continuous Local Government service) plus three additional days in December and bank holidays.
• Pensions: Membership of the Local Government (CARE – Career Average (Revalued Earnings) Pension Scheme – Employer contribution of 19.7%.
• Hybrid: The Council operates a hybrid working model with minimum 2 days working in the office.
• Employee Assistance Programme: The Council has partnered with Health Assured to provide staff with access to EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to assist in balancing everyday life with the requirement of work and home.
• Free staff parking.
• Personal Development: Invaluable training opportunities for continuing professional development.
• Take a look here at all the additional benefits that we offer.

Equal Opportunities

Tunbridge Wells – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Safeguarding

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.