Head of Development Management & Major Projects

Overview

Head of Development Management & Major Projects
Initial 6 month contract - ASAP start
£750 per day
Inside IR35 (via umbrella)
Hybrid working

CVs are being reviewed immediately and interviews will be taking place week commencing 27 April 2026.

Step into a pivotal leadership role where you will shape how a major city grows, regenerates and delivers complex development at pace. As Head of Development Management & Major Projects, you will report directly into the Director of Planning and Building Control, leading senior team leaders across Development Management and Enforcement while holding accountability for significant budgets, performance and major schemes of strategic importance.

This is a high impact opportunity where your decisions will influence the Local Plan, unlock regeneration, and ensure development delivers real social, economic and environmental value. You will balance political awareness with commercial realism, bringing pace, clarity and confidence to a demanding and highly visible service. If you thrive on complexity, leadership and influence, this role will keep you engaged from day one.

Your role as Head of Development Management & Major Projects

• Strategic leadership of Development Management, Enforcement and Major Projects, driving performance, quality and customer focus
• Ownership of major and regionally significant planning applications, from submission through to delivery
• Performance, budget and financial management, including Section 106 contributions and service planning
• Influencing and embedding the Local Plan, planning policy and statutory processes across the service
• Acting as the senior face of the service at committees, partnerships and regional forums

Your previous experience as Head of Development Management & Major Projects

• Proven leadership of Development Management teams within a large urban authority
• Extensive experience handling complex, large scale planning applications, appeals and enforcement
• Strong background in strategic planning, policy implementation and service improvement
• Excellent report writing, presentation and negotiation skills at senior level
• RTPI recognised qualification with additional management or specialist planning experience

You will be hands on, politically astute and comfortable dealing with competing priorities, while creating a positive, high performing culture through coaching and mentoring. Your ability to work across professional boundaries and build strong external partnerships will be critical to success in this role.

If you're interested in discussing this opportunity in more detail, or know someone who would be a strong fit for Head of Development Management & Major Projects, please contact George Batson or Lucy Connick on or apply today.

(We offer a senior referral scheme upon successful placement of your recommendation, so please do get in contact.)

Our clients are committed to creating and sustaining a diverse workforce. Recruiting decisions are based solely on experience and skills, and reasonable adjustments will be fully supported throughout the application and hiring process.