Assistant Director - Planning

Join us – Be part of a truly Inclusive team and organisation

Assistant Director - Planning
Salary: £98,600 - £108,855

Coventry is a city with ambition, innovation and a proud record of delivering transformational change. We are seeking an exceptional planning professional to lead our Planning Service at a pivotal moment for the city and the wider region.

As Coventry's Chief Planning Officer, you will provide strategic leadership across planning policy, development management, enforcement, ecology, urban design and heritage, shaping the future growth and prosperity of a city of almost 400,000 residents. You will play a critical role in driving sustainable development, delivering housing and regeneration ambitions, supporting inward investment and ensuring planning is a key enabler of economic growth.

This is a career-defining opportunity to lead the adoption of Coventry's Local Plan review, help shape emerging regional planning arrangements and use planning as a catalyst for place-making, infrastructure delivery and decarbonisation. Working closely with senior leaders, elected members, developers, investors and regional partners, you will navigate complex political and strategic challenges while championing innovative approaches, technology and service improvement.

We are looking for a visible, collaborative and influential leader with deep planning expertise, strong political awareness and a track record of delivering results in complex environments. In return, you will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on one of the UK's most forward-thinking and ambitious cities, helping to shape Coventry's future for generations to come.

To help you gain a deeper understanding of the role, we encourage you to review the One Coventry Plan and the Local Plan Review. These documents provide valuable insight into the Council’s vision, strategic priorities, and future planning ambitions, which will be central to the Assistant Director of Planning position.

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact our recruitment partners at Faerfield: Dawn Faulkner or Rob Naylor on 0121 312 3755.

What We Can Offer You

No one knows what’s right for you, better than you, and therefore we offer a number of benefits that you can opt into so that you can have benefits that are important to you.

We strongly believe in valuing and rewarding the hard work, commitment and brilliant job you do which goes beyond more than just the salary you receive for a job well done. Therefore, we are pleased to offer you a range of employee benefits from our health and wellbeing partner Vivup, which are designed to improve your physical, financial and mental health wellbeing.

Explore the full range of benefits at #MyRewards – Coventry City Council

Our Values

Different backgrounds. One goal. Real impact.

At Coventry, we're building a workforce that reflects our diverse communities. Guided by our One Coventry Values, we celebrate inclusion, diversity of thought, and lived experience.

We especially welcome applicants from minority ethnic/global majority, LGBT+, those with a disability, and neurodiverse backgrounds – your voice can help shape a fairer future for our residents.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We recognise that you might use AI tools to help with your application. While these tools can be useful, please make sure that all information you provide about your experience, skills, and qualifications is accurate. What matters most to us is hearing about your experience and the achievements that truly reflect you!