Head of Planning and Environment

Working hours: Full time - 37 hours per week

Schedule type: Hybrid working - Office days 2 days per week, however this is dependent on business needs

Are you looking for a role where you can help shape something new, make a visible difference and work alongside people who care deeply about their place? We are building a new Combined County Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, bringing together partners across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to bring investment to the region and to create opportunities for our people, places, communities and businesses.

As Head of Planning and Environment you will build and lead a new team within the Combined Authority, driving the development and delivery of the region’s Spatial Development Strategy. You will set a bold and ambitious spatial vision for the region, underpinned by robust evidence and strong governance, ensuring planning policy actively supports sustainable growth, infrastructure investment and inclusive economic prosperity.

In this role, you’ll play a crucial part in ensuring our teams have the tools, knowledge, and processes they need to deliver a high-quality service. You will:

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• Lead the development of the Spatial Development Strategy, ensuring it reflects HSCCA’s strategic priorities and aligns with priorities set out in the Local Growth Plan, whilst also ensuring it reflects nationally prescribed content.
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• Shape HSCCA’s strategic approach to planning and environment policy, providing strategic spatial leadership across the HSCCA geography, supporting Leaders to develop a place based vision and ensuring alignment with economic, regeneration, transport, housing, health and sustainability objectives.
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• Working with the Insight and Intelligence team oversee the development and maintenance of key evidence base products such as housing needs assessments, environmental impact assessments and spatial mapping.
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• Provide expert professional advice to the Mayor (when elected), HSCCA Board, Planning Advisory Committee and senior leadership on complex and sensitive planning and environmental matters.
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• Embed climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and carbon reduction objectives across all planning and environment workstreams and ensure they are embedded in other relevant HSCCA policy.
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We’re looking for someone with:

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• Extensive experience leading a strategic planning/spatial planning function, including policy development, evidence base creation, and statutory plan making from end to end.
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• Experience planning regionally significant development, infrastructure and environmental initiatives.
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• Strong understanding of planning legislation, environmental regulation, funding streams and statutory responsibilities.
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• The postholder must be politically credible, providing professional advice and have significant experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships in political environments.
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• Experience commissioning and managing technical evidence, including environmental and housing needs assessments.
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• Strong political awareness and ability to navigate sensitive issues across a complex political landscape.
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• Ability to build strong relationships across public, private, and voluntary sectors.
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• Skilled in drafting strategic plans, reports and professional recommendations.
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• Degree in Planning or a related discipline (essential); Postgraduate qualification in Planning or related field / Chartered professional status (desirable).
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• MRTPI (Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute).
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We are building the HSCCA on the basis that how we work is as important as what we deliver. We want people who bring enthusiasm, drive, and authenticity - who are proactive, open to challenge, and motivated by progress rather than process.

We act in line with the Nolan Principles. We use public money responsibly, make evidence-based decisions, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity, inclusion, and accessibility. We expect feedback to be given and received constructively, challenge to be welcomed, and relationships to be built on openness, trust, and mutual respect.

This is a complex, fast-moving environment. We need people who are energised by that.

As we take on new responsibilities devolved from Government, you will have a genuine opportunity to contribute to building a public service organisation that does things differently.

Our reward package includes:

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• A flexible working environment, with hybrid working arrangements as standard (minimum 2 days per week in our office)
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• A competitive salary and benefits package
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• Investment in your professional development and leadership growth
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• The chance to work alongside a leadership team that is committed to building an organisation where people thrive
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• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
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The HSCCA is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, particularly those from groups that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes people from ethnic minority communities, disabled people, neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ people, parents and carers, and individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We are committed to removing barriers to employment and encourage candidates to let us know about any reasonable adjustments they may need at any stage of the recruitment process.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we run a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. If you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description for this position and would like to be considered under this scheme, please state this in your application.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. As part of this, we use anonymous shortlisting to ensure candidates are assessed solely on their skills, experience, and suitability for the role.