Service Manager - Planning and Housing Strategy

Make a Difference in Lancaster
As Service Manager for Planning & Housing Strategy, you will lead the team shaping Lancaster’s future through the delivery of sustainable development, climate action, and community-focused planning.

Your work will ensure that planning and housing policies support vibrant neighbourhoods, protect heritage, and enhance local facilities and transport, making a real difference to residents’ lives.

What You’ll Be Doing
You will manage an award-winning multi-disciplinary team delivering the Council’s strategic planning and housing agenda. You will build on these good foundations to provide strategic vision and continuing momentum as we seek to deliver our ambitious placemaking agenda. This includes overseeing strong performance across all planning policy service areas, and working alongside Senior Management and Councillors to deliver excellence in terms of new policy development and strategy implementation.

You’ll Fit Right In If…
You are a full MRTPI member with demonstrable experience in planning and housing policy management. You bring excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills, with a proven track record of managing teams and budgets. You share our values of Working Together, Ambition, Pride, and Ownership, and hold a full UK driving licence.

Ready to Join Us?
If you’re passionate about shaping sustainable communities and leading positive change, we’d love to hear from you. Find out more about what it’s like working with us, our benefits, values and culture, by visiting lancaster.gov.uk/sites/recruitment.

Why Work With Us
Our Benefits
Generous annual leave
Local Government Pension Scheme
Discounted gym membership
Cycle to Work scheme
Car purchase scheme
Lifestyle savings
Health Care Cash Plan
Volunteering days
Wellbeing support
Flexible working friendly

We welcome discussions about flexible working and will be able to offer hybrid working, a generous flexi-time scheme, and agreed working hours to support work–life balance.

Inclusive employer

We welcome applications from all parts of the community and are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We guarantee interviews for applicants with a disability and armed forces veterans who meet the essential criteria.

Interview Date: Week Commencing: 2 March 2026