Job Description: Planning Strategy & Specialist Services Manager

Help Shape the Next Chapter of Fenland

Fenland is a pro-growth district with a growing strategic role in regional growth and major infrastructure delivery.

As we prepare a new Local Plan under the reformed plan-making system—alongside the Fens Growth Triangle and nationally significant projects such as Fens Reservoir—we are expanding our Planning Strategy & Specialist Services Team to help shape Fenland’s future.

The Opportunity

Fenland is a place that is growing and changing, with real opportunities to make a lasting difference. Our towns and villages are evolving, major investment is coming forward, and the decisions we take now will shape how Fenland develops for many years to come.

As a pro-growth Council, we are preparing a new Local Plan under the reformed plan-making system, alongside major initiatives such as the Fens Growth Triangle and nationally significant projects including Fens Reservoir. This is an exciting moment to help set a clear direction for the district and to plan positively for growth that supports our communities and economy.

We work with a strong One Council ethos, bringing together expertise from planning, communities, housing, transport and environmental services. These roles offer the opportunity to work across disciplines, collaborate with a wide range of colleagues and partners, and contribute to joined-up solutions that shape places and deliver real outcomes for Fenland.

Why Join Fenland?

• Be part of a pro-growth Council shaping the future of the district
• Work on a new Local Plan and nationally significant infrastructure projects
• Collaborate across a One Council team spanning planning, communities, housing, transport and environmental services
• Enjoy flexible working, professional development and the opportunity to make a real difference

If you are looking for work that is meaningful, collaborative and forward-looking, Fenland offers the opportunity to shape places and make an impact.

Salary up to £63,110 per annum (plus £6,112 car allowance) + a 10% market supplement after successfully completing probation period, followed by a retention payment after three years’ service

37 hours per week

This is a senior role at the heart of Fenland’s place-shaping agenda.

You will lead the Council’s planning strategy and specialist services, guiding how Fenland grows and develops over the long term. A key priority will be delivering a new Local Plan under the reformed plan-making system, supported by a clear spatial strategy, strong evidence base and effective neighborhood planning.

You will manage specialist functions including ecology, the historic environment, arboriculture and monitoring, ensuring they add real value to planning and decision-making. You will also provide strategic leadership on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, oversee infrastructure delivery planning, and represent the Council in wider strategic work, including spatial development strategies at CPCA level.

Working within a strong One Council ethos, you will collaborate closely with colleagues across planning, communities, housing, transport and environmental services, helping to deliver joined-up, positive outcomes for Fenland.

This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference – shaping projects of local, regional, and national significance and helping to deliver a sustainable future for our communities.

If you are interested in this post and would like to apply, please complete an application form please click the Apply Now button.

Closing Date – Wednesday 21st January 2026