South and East Lincolnshire Council Partnership - Group Manager – Planning Policy

Group Manager – Planning Policy

Salary: Grade 8 (£63,556 - £73,269)

Shape the Strategic Future of Lincolnshire

Are you a senior planning professional with the vision and leadership to drive policy across three Councils? We are looking for a Group Manager – Planning Policy to lead our policy teams and deliver two Local Plans – the East Lindsey Local Plan and the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan – alongside major strategic projects that will shape the future of our communities.

As part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) – the largest of its kind in England – you’ll be working in a dynamic environment that covers 49% of Lincolnshire’s geography and 300,000 residents.

ABOUT US: Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council have formed the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. The largest Council Partnership in the country. Since October 2021, the Partnership Councils have been working closely to deliver improved services to the communities in the sub-region and already there have been many positive outcomes.

Over time, it is envisaged that services will become formally shared across the three Councils creating the opportunity for colleagues to be involved in new and innovate areas of work.

Please visit Join our Planning Team - South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership for more information about the partnership and our planning service.

Why Join Us?

• Lead planning policy across three councils and influence the future of South and East Lincolnshire.
• rive the review and delivery of two Local Plans, setting the framework for thousands of new homes and employment sites to meet growth ambitions.
• Shape policy on climate change, biodiversity net gain, renewable energy, coastal resilience, and heritage protection.
• Be part of an award-winning Partnership recognised nationally for innovation and collaboration.
• Benefit from a strong culture of staff development, including leadership programmes and professional qualifications.
• Enjoy agile and flexible working arrangements within a supportive, collaborative environment.

About the Role

As Group Manager – Planning Policy, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership for Planning Policy, Ecology/BNG, and Heritage functions across the Partnership.
• Manage and deliver Local Plan reviews and associated policy frameworks.
• Lead and inspire multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring high performance and professional development.
• Work closely with senior leaders, elected members, and external partners to deliver growth and regeneration priorities.
• Oversee budgets, contracts, and strategic projects, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

What We’re Looking For

• In-depth knowledge of planning law, policy development, and Local Plan preparation.
• Proven leadership experience in a senior planning role.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline; RTPI membership desirable.
• Ability to travel across the Partnership area as part of your duties.

BENEFITS: We offer excellent terms and conditions of employment including:

Local Government Pension Scheme, 23.8% employer contribution

Generous annual leave scheme +option to buy more

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Benefits Platform including retail, holiday, and leisure discounts

Cycle to work scheme*

Flu Jabs

Free Eye Test voucher

Flexible Working Policy

Agile Working Policy*

Car mileage reimbursement*

Excellent career progression and training opportunities

Long Service Recognition*

*Certain restrictions may apply

If you are interested in having a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Brian Gallagher at Brian.Gallagher@penna.com or 07716 098175

Ready to Shape Policy for Growth?

If you’re passionate about planning policy and want to help deliver sustainable communities across Lincolnshire, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply:

1. Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
2. Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
3. Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
4. Please ensure that the file name of your CV and supporting statement includes your full name.
5. Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.
6. If you have a long-term health condition or disability and would like your application to be considered in accordance with a Disability Confident Scheme, please email: execapplications@penna.com, to inform the Penna team.

Please find the full job description for the role Here