Solace
Director of Planning, Economy and Public Protection
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Director of Planning, Economy and Public Protection
Location: Reading, UK Salary: £96,900 - £112,827
Reading is one of the UK’s most dynamic urban economies, characterised by its ambition, diversity, and rapid growth. This role offers the opportunity to shape its future by integrating planning, economic growth, and public protection, from driving town centre regeneration projects like Minster Quarter and Broad Street Mall, to fostering new homes, jobs, public spaces, culture, nightlife, and thriving communities.
You’ll play a key role in delivering Reading’s major programmes, with responsibility for:
About the Role
We are seeking a strategic place leader who can provide leadership across an expansive portfolio, including:
- Planning Policy
- Development Management and Building Control
- Public Protection and Regulatory Services
- Growth, Regeneration and Economic Development
Your aim will be to drive momentum, delivery, and commercial confidence through complex initiatives — enabling high-impact projects while ensuring inclusive growth and social value.
This is a role where practical leadership meets strategic vision. You’ll be accountable for:
- Advancing Reading’s corporate priorities through place-shaping initiatives.
- Collaborating with developers, businesses, partners, and elected members.
- Balancing priorities across economic growth, regulatory compliance, and community well-being.
- Leading major projects from concept to delivery, championing inclusivity and sustainable development.
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Reading is a place full of energy, offering unparalleled professional growth within a clear direction of travel. You’ll join a collaborative leadership culture with a shared purpose: delivering a stronger, greener, and more confident town centre at the heart of the Thames Valley.
Key Responsibilities
You will:
- Lead the full Planning, Economy and Public Protection service, ensuring strategic alignment with Reading’s corporate goals.
- Drive major regeneration projects (e.g., Minster Quarter), balancing economic growth with stronger lived environments.
- Strengthen relationships with developers, businesses, and partners to secure investment and socially responsible outcomes.
- Influence at all levels, from technical delivery to stakeholder engagement, embedding a culture of pace, inclusivity, and external confidence.
- Shape a responsive, agile approach to planning and regulatory frameworks that support sustainable development.
- Champion public protection with a forward-thinking yet compliant role, ensuring safety without undermining progress.
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Requirements
You’ll bring:
- Proven senior leadership in planning, regeneration, or related policies, with experience managing high-impact services.
- A demonstrable track record in making complex decisions that balance commercial imperatives with social and environmental objectives.
- Strategic insight into town centre regeneration and place-shaping principles.
- Commercial acumen to attract investment while securing broader social value.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including influence with elected members, partners, and the public.
- A collaborative, mission-driven mentalité that champions both ambition and pragmatic delivery.
Benefits
- A mortgage-free salary with a generous pension scheme, tailored career development, and opportunities within a growing urban economy.
- Leadership in a mission-driven organisation with a clear vision for Reading’s future.
- High-impact work making tangible differences in the town centre and broader city-wide regeneration.
For more details, visit team-reading.co.uk. To discuss informally, contact Steve Guest at Solace in Business (020 7976 3311).
Closing date: Monday 27th July, 2024
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