Leeds City Council, Chief Planning Officer

Up to £123,394

Leeds is a city that consistently exceeds expectations and contributes over and above to the wider UK economy. We continue to make our mark regionally, nationally and globally, powered by the broad range of talent and assets found in every corner of the city.

Our Leeds Ambitions set out a positive vision for the future of Leeds – one which recognises the amazing strengths and opportunities we have. Our economy is growing and continues to attract investment making Leeds a better place to do business and a great place to live. The partnerships which drive our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our population are as good as you will find anywhere in the country. And Leeds is once again leading the way in demonstrating how we can meaningfully tackle climate change, recently being one of only 119 global cities to receive the highest ‘A grade’ by the Carbon Disclosure Project.

To realise our ambitions we need a planning professional with the energy, confidence and experience to deliver at scale. This is a key senior role which will set the spatial requirements for the development and management of this core city within a large geography.

Leeds is a city committed to inclusive growth and development, so you will play a critical strategic role within the council. In this position you will bring strong leadership and be strategically and operationally responsible for the council’s planning functions and the delivery of agreed outcomes, targets and objectives as determined by our Organisational Plan.

You will be confident in working with key partners at local, regional and national level and be adept at working in collaboration with colleagues and partners to support the delivery of real change across the city.

Candidates need to demonstrate:

·     Experience of leading and managing the planning functions in a major public sector or private sector organisation ensuring the delivery and improvement of services that meet the needs of citizens and stakeholders.

·     Evidence of leading, shaping and influencing innovative and commercially astute practice to maximise opportunities while realising efficiencies.

·     Experience of developing and managing a transparent framework for compliance with planning legislation and policy requirements at national, regional and local levels.

·     Experience of representing an organisation on a range of planning related matters at regional and national level.

For further information go to https://leadingleeds.co.uk/ or contact our retained consultants at Penna: Pete John 07701 305617 or Ali Tasker 07514 728 114

Closing Date: 11:59pm, Sunday 9 November 2025.

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.