Development Investment Area Lead (North Kent)

Role Responsibility

The county faces considerable challenges from housing growth which are especially acute in the Southeast. Kent County Council is committed to mitigating the impacts of growth through the delivery of developer funded infrastructure to ensure the best possible outcomes for residents and the environment in Kent.

If you have the skills, expertise and determination to create sustainable communities and ensure that residents continue to have locally accessible infrastructure, including schools, libraries and adult social care facilities, then we have an exciting opportunity to join us in the role of Development Investment Lead. Leading the work of the Development Investment Team in North Kent you will be responsible for responding to planning applications, Local Plans and other growth-related policies, ensuring appropriate levels of infrastructure and developer contributions are provided to create well-designed, sustainable communities whilst supporting the growth and economic development of the area.

Working with partners you will be helping to maintain Kent’s attractiveness as an ideal locality to live and work.

With responsibility for the oversight of planning responses in KCC’s role as statutory consultee, delivery of sufficient education provision and active communities are a key components of this role.

About You

As you will be working with a wide range of stakeholders at a strategic multi-agency level, we expect you to have excellent networking, collaborative skills and be good at forming and maintaining relationships with both internal colleagues and external partners. You will be a strategic thinker, expert negotiator and innovative problem solver; skills which you will use to deliver high quality built communities.

You will need to be able to understand and work in a Member led local government environment and be prepared to be challenged.  You will understand how to prepare and present regular management reports and briefings for Directors and Elected Members on the progress of infrastructure provision and seek views in relation to resources, service development and timescales, highlighting risks and making recommendations to ensure that infrastructure is delivered successfully.    

You will have a degree or relevant work experience within the planning or policy environment and be able to demonstrate strong arithmetic and budgeting skills.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

As part of the interview process for this role you may be required to complete additional testing.

The closing date for this job may change based on the number and suitability of candidates received during the recruitment process.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Colin Finch – Development Investment Team Manager

03000 413990

(After 5th September 2024)

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county’s working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.