Job info	Job info details
Job title	Divisional Director - Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency
Business unit	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Director of Pride in Place
Accountable to (line manager)	Director of Pride in Place
Salary grade	£100,000 to £104,998

1. Key purpose of job

• Lead and direct the Council’s Planning, Strategic Housing and Climate Change Emergency response functions: to formulate Torbay wide planning, housing and transport strategies in conjunction with partner organisations, to promote cohesive and integrated planning and infrastructure policy; to improve Torbay in line with strategic objectives with a particular focus on the cross cutting priority of Climate Change and advise officers and members on planning, including housing delivery and strategic infrastructure matters.
• Responsible for working with the Senior Leadership Team and other departments to help develop, promote and deliver the council's regeneration strategy across major regeneration areas and opportunity areas, ensuring that the planning service provides pro-active support and appropriate resources for forward planning and development management.
• Responsible for the production, implementation and review of the Council’s strategic spatial strategy ensuring that the Local Plan and Supplementary Planning Documents support delivery of corporate and partner strategies, including the Housing Strategy; to ensure that there is a clear approach to the improvement of physical and social infrastructure, supported by a robust strategy and negotiating framework for Section106 Agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL); to make representations to other agencies, LGA/PAS, government and authorities in the furtherance of planning and housing within Torbay and the Bay’s interests.
• Promote a dynamic approach to delivering the council’s growth agenda, including housing delivery.
• Strategically plan, co-ordinate and manage the specialist disciplines within the Services and resolve conflicting priorities having regard to risk, budget and Council policy.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Effective and efficient services that are fit for purpose and respond to transformational change and the needs and expectations of its stakeholders and customers.
• The highest standards of design of built development, enhancement of the built environment, conservation of the historic fabric and negotiation of optimum beneficial development through the development management process.
• Partners are effectively engaged and their contribution coordinated to maximise available resources and embeds a systematic approach to delivering economic growth in Torbay, whilst meeting the communities need for housing.
• Effective and coordinated approach to tackle the Council’s priority to respond to the Climate Change Emergency.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times
• Ensuring that a balanced budget is set and maintained for the Directorate.
• Ongoing responsibility to review the efficiency and performance of the Directorate having regard to risk and Council policy.
• Improve customer service, access to and electronic self-serve use of the planning service; to optimise processes, procedures and performance within all sections of the service; to optimise efficiency and value for money in the use of staff and resources.
• Manage business challenges and individual competencies to ensure that optimum resources are allocated to maximise service delivery in achieving business objectives, Local and National Performance indicators and Corporate Area Assessment scores.
• Assist in bring to fruition the aims and objectives of the Corporate Plan.
• Actively encourage and support all aspects of economic regeneration and the ongoing prosperity of the bay.
• Promote a customer centric approach and adopt recognised quality management principles to service delivery.
• Understand and respond to the needs and expectations of stakeholders and customers.
• Manage compliance with all relevant statutory and regulatory provisions applicable to the operation of the business unit and the council.
• Promote the council and business function while ensuring staff present a consistent professional image within the Bay, regionally and nationally.
• Draft and oversee delivery of organisation, policy and respond to legislative changes by developing, implementing and reviewing new policies, procedures and practices.
• Advising Directors, Chief Executive and Elected Members of major and strategic service specific issues that are likely to affect policy framework and performance of the council by writing reports, attending briefings and council meetings as required.
• Be an active and effective member of the Council’s Senior Leadership Team.
• Ensure effective complaint management and adequate response to any complaints in accordance with policy and published procedures.
• Ensuring proper communications, effective integration and co-ordination of specialist disciplines, determining priorities, establishing correct levels of delegation and utilising resources efficiently.
• Monitor the strategic performance and risk management of projects identified in the business unit balance score card in order to maximise delivery.
• Ensure effective project management with the balanced score card using appropriate Prince 2 methodologies.
• Provide such support as may be required in response to Major Emergencies and business recovery.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other key organisations and groups from within Torbay and the South West Region.
• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• Circa £4m budget including fees, and staffing budgets.
• Ensuring that a balanced budget is set and continuously monitored across services using the FIMS financial management system and provide exception reports for any significant variances for the business unit.
• Ensuring adequate control and management of allocated funding to facilitate the satisfactory completion of projects identified.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Responsible for the following teams:
  • Spatial Planning (including Strategic Transport Planning)
  • Housing
  • Building Control
• To plan, co-ordinate and set priorities for the management of Team Leaders and staff and resolve any conflicting priorities.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working environment and conditions

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical effort

8. Specific resources used by the post

• IT equipment such as laptop and other devices

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Central Government
• Other Local Authorities
• Other public sector organisations
• The Council’s auditors
• Private and voluntary organisations and employers
• Community and voluntary sector
• Sub-National Transport Board
• Local Enterprise Partnership

Internal

• Elected Members
• Chief Executive
• Deputy Chief Executive
• Senior Leadership Team
• Leader and Executive Members
• Senior staff across the Council
• Trades Union
• Employees at all levels across the Council

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

N/A

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Divisional Director - Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency
Business unit	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• The proven ability to manage budgets and a high level of financial acumen.
• Ability to think creatively and to apply creative solutions to complex problems.
• The proven ability to effectively manage risk and conflicting priorities.
• Outcomes focused and solution-oriented.
• Authentic and inspiring leader, able to build inclusive and high-performing teams.
• Demonstrable people management skills.
• High levels of communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines and to prioritise competing demands effectively.
• Ability to communicate authoritatively and appropriately with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels.
• Personal integrity and political sensitivity.
• The ability to effectively manage change and transformation.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Significant theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience in a discipline of the Spatial Planning function.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Thorough understanding of the legislative context relating to the delivery of local authorities’ planning responsibilities.
• Knowledge of local government and the legal, financial and political context of public sector management including the statutory responsibilities relating to this area of work.
• Knowledge of procurement and financial regulation.

Desirable knowledge

N/A

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Proven experience of management and problem solving at a strategic level.
• Experience of policy development and implementation across a large organisation.
• Experience of budget setting and management.
• Experience of working in a political environment, building positive relationships with politicians, generating mutual confidence and respect.
• Experience of translating strategic vision into local plans in collaboration with professionals, partners and customers.
• Significant senior management experience and proven record of achievement in leading and managing planning teams, developing complex planning projects and applications.
• Experience of working with external/partner organisations.
• Significant evidence of delivering service improvements, including developing different delivery models, and the ability to identify new options for service development.
• Substantial track record of successful negotiation and implementation of complex programmes with multiple stakeholders to deliver against council objectives.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Senior management experience of a local government function that includes decision making, policy development, reporting writing for council committees, budgeting and other financial responsibilities.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Degree Qualification (or equivalent) in area relevant to the post
• RTPI accredited
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Leadership or management qualification

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours
• Ability to accommodate occasional home-working