Head of Planning

South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are entering a defining moment. With a major new planning system launching and our shared service ready for fresh leadership, we're looking for a Head of Planning who can guide us into a new era of modern, confident and high performing planning.

The Organisation’s Leading Planning Expert

In this role, you will be the councils’ number one planning professional, the person our members, senior leaders and partners look to for clarity, interpretation, and advice. You will set the tone, shape the culture, and provide the strategic and statutory leadership needed to navigate complex decisions in one of the country’s most high profile planning landscapes.

A Service Ready for the Future

You will take on a strong foundation: award winning innovative work, high performance in development management, and capable managers who are ready to grow. But this is a moment that calls for a leader who can unite teams, modernise ways of working, and ensure the service meets the government’s, and the councils’, challenging ambitions.

A Transformational Year Ahead

With a state of the art planning system going live, you will use this as a platform for cultural change, improving transparency, strengthening governance, and elevating the customer experience. You will build confidence among members, improve communication with town and parish councils, and reinforce a more proactive approach to enforcement. And you will prepare the service for the opportunities and challenges ahead, including the implications of future local government reform.

A Landscape of Scale and Ambition

This is a region with nationally significant housing and infrastructure growth, sensitive landscapes, flagship employment sites, enterprise zones and strong environmental commitments. You will help the organisation navigate political ambition, community and partner expectation and statutory planning requirements, grounding decisions in policy, law and evidence while supporting members to make informed, confident choices.

A Leader Who Inspires Confidence

We’re looking for someone who brings authority with integrity, emotional intelligence without hesitation, and resilience without rigidity. Someone who can connect services, build trust, and lead through complexity with clarity and purpose.

If you’re ready to shape a modern planning service, influence at the highest level, and make a genuine impact on the places and communities we serve, this is the moment to join us.

For a confidential conversation about the role, please contact our executive search partners GatenbySanderson: Kembi Coakelin kembi.coakelin@gatenbysanderson.com and Del Coutinho delicia.coutinho@gatenbysanderson.com 

Closing date: Sunday 22nd February 2026