Planning Support Team Leader

Job Introduction

Working Hours: 37

Interview Date(s): To be confirmed

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Planning Support Team Leader to join Rutland County Council's Development Management team. This is a key role within our Places Directorate, leading a dedicated Planning Support team and helping to ensure the efficient delivery of the planning service across the county. You will play a vital role in maintaining service performance, supporting continuous improvement, and ensuring that planning applications, appeals and related processes are managed effectively and within statutory timescales.

About the Role

As Planning Support Team Leader, you will supervise and coordinate the daily work of the Planning Support team, ensuring the efficient processing of planning applications, appeals and associated administrative functions. Working closely with the Development Manager, you will help monitor service performance, implement service improvements and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and procedures.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing and supporting Planning Technicians, allocating workloads and ensuring service resilience during periods of absence.
• Overseeing the validation and processing of planning applications and appeals, ensuring regulatory timescales are met.
• Supporting the administration and performance monitoring of the Council's building control service.
• Maintaining and developing planning systems, online portals and electronic records.
• Producing, checking and issuing statutory planning documentation.
• Monitoring performance indicators and assisting with government returns and bench-marking activities.
• Providing technical guidance and training to team members.
• Liaising with applicants, agents, statutory consultees, councillors and members of the public.
• Supporting service development and the implementation of new processes and systems that improve efficiency and customer service.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for an organised and customer-focused professional to contribute to the delivery of high-quality planning services within a small, ambitious authority.

About You

You will be an experienced administrator or planning support professional with excellent organisational skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality customer service. You will be confident managing staff, managing workloads and maintaining performance standards in a busy environment.

You will also have:

• Experience using Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
• Significant experience and working knowledge of planning systems, legislation and application processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to interpret plans, maps and technical drawings.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately under pressure.
• The ability to use initiative, solve problems and think logically.
• A flexible and collaborative approach to work.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and excellent customer care.

Relevant Experience

To be successful in this role, candidates may have experience in one or more of the following areas or roles:

• Planning Support Manager
• Planning Support Officer
• Planning Technician
• Development Management Administrator
• Planning Validation Officer
• Building Control Administrator
• Local Government Administration
• Development Management Support Services

Informal enquiries

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Justin Johnson, Development Manager, at jjohnson@rutland.gov.uk

We review applications frequently; however, in periods of high demand, the role may close earlier than advertised, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Our benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A strong focus on health, wellbeing, and work-life balance

For further information on the benefits of working for Rutland, please see our careers page: Jobs and volunteering | Rutland County Council

Our Values

Our values – Passionate, Ambitious, Work Together, and Make a Difference – guide everything we do. We’re looking for people who share these values and want to contribute to strong, supportive teams that deliver positive outcomes for our communities.