Northumberland County Council

Northumberland County Council
 
Highways Development Manager

Workplace: County Hall, Morpeth

Job Purpose:

1. To lead, manage and direct the delivery of the highways development management service in an efficient, effective and customer-focussed manner which prioritises the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the emerging Core Strategy and the Economic Strategy to meet the economic, social and environmental needs of Northumberland.
2. To manage a team of professional and technical officers to carry out all statutory functions relating to Highways Development Management in relation to the delivery of developments to meet legislative and regulatory requirements.
3. To manage and co-ordinate the development, monitoring and review of all policies, strategies and procedures
4. To make an effective contribution to the Corporate Management of the Service, Directorate and County Council.

Resources

Staff
Manage and lead a team of Professional, Technical, Finance and Administrative support staff and, as necessary Interims and Sub-Contractors providing front line and or back office services.

Finance
Directly manage the Highways development management team budget, monitoring and controlling expenditure against forecasts.  Effectively manage service contracts and service level agreements with contractors, clients and community partners. Ensure effective spending of budget and set budgets for specific tasks. Accountable and responsible for fee income (up to approx. £1m)

Physical
Manage the physical resources associated with the Highways development management team, including working environment, equipment, computer hardware and computer software systems associated with the delivery of the service. Development, interpretation use and capture management of critical business and technical data.

Clients
Working with a diverse range of public, private and voluntary organisations and bodies, members of the public and elected members and a wide range of council officers. Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, Council policies and procedures and take decisions that may affect circumstances of service users.   Develop corporate policy and service delivery initiatives that impact upon the quality of service provided to users.

Duties and key result areas:  Manage the Highways Development Management function on behalf of the Highway Authority;

1. Lead and direct the Highways development management team to proactively deliver an efficient, effective and customer-focussed service in accordance with National Planning Policy, the emerging Core Strategy and Economic Strategy and Council priorities.
2. Lead and direct the Highways Development Management function, including the preparation of statutory responses to consultations on planning applications, involvement in the pre-application process and negotiation, development and monitoring of s278 and s38 agreements under the Highways Act.
3. Provide professional and technical advice to Elected Members, Directors, Senior Managers and service users on all matters of strategy, policy and practice relating to the Highways development management service, ensuring compliance with Corporate and Departmental strategic plans, policies and statutory requirements.
4. Contribute effectively to the preparation of the Northumberland Local Plan and Local Transport Plan.
5. Provide effective support and attendance at Planning and Area Committees, public meetings and Member site visits, as required.
6. Co-ordinate the preparation and presentation of evidence to support the Council’s case at appeals and public inquiries on highways issues, including acting as expert witness in planning appeals and presenting the Council’s case at Public Inquiries and Hearings, as required
7. Manage, delegate and direct the human (including sub-contractors), physical and financial resources of the Highways Development Management Team including evaluation of work and work methods to effectively achieve service and corporate objectives
8. Ensure the provision of timely and accurate professional advice and information on the development and review of development management standards, regulations, practices and procedures.
9. Ensure that the Highways Development Management Team operates effective performance management procedures and that both staff and service development is fully supported through appraisal, training and development.
10. Continuously motivate the team and individuals by providing clear delegation and direction, always maintaining positive relationships with employees.
11. As an integral member of the Development and Delivery management team fully participate in the corporate planning and management processes for the service.
12.  Maintain effective management, communication systems and processes within the Team and the wider service and, in conjunction with senior colleagues, ensure that employees, at all levels, are fully aware of their respective roles, functions and responsibilities and changes to legislation or Council policies.
13. Continuously promote effective partnership arrangements, for the delivery of high quality services, through effective and constructive relationships with colleagues and external contacts and ensure that an efficient, high quality and cost effective service is delivered by private sector partners, commissioned to provide additional professional support, to ensure the delivery of the Council’s agreed priorities.
14.  Be responsible for the identification of opportunities for ‘value for money improvements’, in resource usage and to monitor and report on the performance of all assets, including bringing forward rationalisation/expansion proposals as necessary. Ensure that robust mechanisms are continuously developed to establish and monitor the effectiveness of service related strategies, policies and practices.
15.  Promote on-going good relations with all other Directorates of the Council with a view to achieving the most effective performance of its functions to achieve a co-ordinated approach to the development and provision of services.
16.  Provide a highways development management input to other corporate strategies / activities of the Council and contribute to the regional / national development management agenda.
17.  Ensure effective joint working and planning with all relevant external agencies, so as to maximise the Council's role, function and influence in relation to all aspects of service provision.
18. Actively promote the role of the service and Council in relation to its service activities and policies at local, regional and national level as appropriate.
 
 We are offering:

1. A starting salary of £ 45,495 - £49,950 (Band 10)
2. 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
3. Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
4. Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available&l