Job title: Team Leader (Enforcement)
Salary: PO6 £51,356 - £54,49
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds
As a Team Leader in Planning Enforcement, you’ll enjoy working with colleagues across the Council and outside it to help deliver a key planning service to the city. You’ll be joining one of the largest core-city planning authorities and busiest enforcement services in the country, within a diverse and thriving area.
The role is more than about overseeing enforcement cases; it presents an excellent opportunity to shape how the service operates as we embark on an improvement review.
Leeds City Council is one of the biggest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As an Enforcement Team Leader you will bring to the role:
- Management experience in an equivalent service or organisation.
- Strong leadership, resilience, and interpersonal awareness.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Experience in monitoring performance and setting objectives.
- Experience in managing competing priorities and risks.
- Sound senior experience of working within a Planning environment, preferably with extensive experience of Planning Enforcement
- Experience managing change and driving service improvements.
About the role
The role involves leading one of two area teams handling a full range enforcement matters in urban and rural environments, as part of the Development Management Service. You will liaise closely with colleagues in all areas of the Council, other authorities, public bodies and private organisations to deliver high quality enforcement outcomes to Members, developers and the citizens of Leeds. You will line-manage Enforcement Officers, Senior Enforcement Officers and an Enforcement Technician to provide them with support and guidance and will determine cases for closure or further formal action.
The service is based in Merrion House in Leeds City Centre, but has adopted a flexible, hybrid working model.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
- A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
- A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact David Newbury, Group Manager. Call 113 3787990, or email david.m.newbury@leeds.gov.uk.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose
To lead and manage a defined team within Planning and Sustainable Development, delivering a range of services and projects aligned to Council priorities. The postholder will provide leadership, professional advice, and ensure high-quality service delivery, contributing to the Council’s ambition to be the best city council in the country.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a defined range of the Service’s activities and staff.
- Direct resources to specific projects and programmes of work.
- Ensure delivery of services to customers that meet agreed performance targets.
- Ensure compliance with legislative requirements and professional standards.
- Promote service improvements and efficient working practices, including use of information management technology.
- Deputise for the Chief Planning Officer, Head of Service or Group Manager as required.
- Engage with elected members, service users, community representatives, and other stakeholders to support open and accountable governance.
- Personally manage complex, high-profile or politically sensitive casework.
- Represent the Council at public hearings, inquiries, and meetings.
- Provide professional advice to elected members, officers, and service users.
- Plan, organise, and monitor work within budget constraints.
- Promote partnership working and long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Support diversity and equality in service delivery and workforce management.
- Manage risk and ensure health and safety compliance.
- Maintain professional knowledge and pursue continuous development.
- Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.
Specific Team Responsibilities
The postholder will lead a team covering one of the following areas:
- Development Management (Area)
- Development Management (Minerals, Energy and Waste)
- Development Management (Enforcement)
- Environment and Design (Contamination and Trees)
- Environment and Design (Design and Projects)
- Environment and Design (Heritage, Landscape, and Biodiversity)
- Strategic Planning (Policy, Data, Local and Neighbourhood Plans)
- Business Systems and Support
- Technical and Customer Support
Qualifications
Essential:
- Degree or equivalent qualification providing membership/exemption for relevant professional body.
Essential Requirements
- Management experience in a relevant service or organisation.
- Experience managing budgets and resources.
- Experience monitoring performance and setting objectives.
- Strong leadership, resilience, and interpersonal awareness.
- Ability to present complex information clearly.
- Experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience managing change and driving service improvements.
- Ability to solve complex problems creatively.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Experience managing competing priorities and risks.
- Ability to coach and mentor staff.
- In-depth knowledge of planning legislation and policy.
- Understanding of planning’s role in sustainable development.
- Senior-level planning experience.
- Experience delivering public presentations.
Behavioural and Other Characteristics required
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours.
- Committed to continuous improvement and the Best City Ambition.
- Observe equality and diversity policies.
- Comply with health and safety responsibilities.
- Willingness to participate in training and development.
- Flexible and adaptable to change.
- Support equality and challenge discrimination.
- Work within the Council’s flexibility protocol.
- Seeks service improvement through partnerships and feedback.
