Deputy Team Leader

**Deputy Team Leader - Placemaking x 2- Full time 36 hours per week**

**_ Grade 15 (spinal columns 41-43); _**_£53,607 - £55,620 _**_+ Market Factor Supplement of £6971 per annum_**

**Croydon Council Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery Department**

**Spatial Planning, Regeneration & Growth Zone Service - Placemaking Team**

Croydon is placed to be a major strategic force for growth and transformation in London and the South East, as conveyed in the Council’s Local Plan, its award-winning masterplans and the Croydon Opportunity Area Planning Framework.

High-quality design and placemaking sit at the heart of Croydon’s ambitious vision and work is already underway on the delivery of an ambitious programme of regeneration projects led by both the council and private sectors partners. This includes the regeneration of the town centre, revival of large urban quarters and delivery of the Council’s Growth Zone programme including significant public realm improvements, and supporting high profile mixed-use developments across the borough.

The two posts offer an exciting opportunity for experienced and motivated designers with a background in architecture, urban design or landscape architecture to work within the Spatial Planning, Regeneration & Growth Zone Service. The Service brings together Croydon’s Placemaking, Plan-making, Regeneration and Growth Zone teams to provide a coordinated approach to planning, design and delivery of Croydon’s future regeneration, development and projects.

The team are currently undertaking a number of exciting projects including some major public realm interventions across the town centre funded by Growth Zone and Levelling Up Fund, alongside developing and testing new tools for meaningful community engagement in the Croydon Urban Room; running a high profile Design Review Panel of built environment experts, and heritage-led regeneration projects. The team continue to seek opportunities for collaborations with local and regional partners including community organisations, universities and schools and creative practitioners.

**Deputy Team Leader (Placemaking Team)**

You will be part of the management that leads the Placemaking Team of the Spatial Planning, Regeneration & Growth Zone Service - recognised as one of the most progressive placemaking teams in the UK. In this role you will help to lead an award-winning team of placemaking professionals with backgrounds in architecture, planning, urban design, heritage & conservation, landscape architecture and culture. You will line manage and support up approximately 4 Placemaking officers, guiding them through their experience of working at Croydon Council including regular 1-1 sessions, liaison with HR and annual appraisals.

You will demonstrate experience in leading and managing teams and work with the Placemaking management to plan and shape team structure, recruitment and resourcing, as well as organise relevant training and upskilling opportunities for the Placemaking officers. You will be expected to deputise for the Placemaking Team Leader in attending senior management meetings. You will work closely with Team Leaders in Plan Making, Regeneration, Growth Zone and Development Management to monitor progress and collaborative working across planning and regeneration processes. You will report to the Head of Spatial Planning, Regeneration and Growth Zone to provide regular updates on relevant projects and team updates

You will deliver and contribute towards project briefings for the council’s Executive Mayor and Cabinet Members as well as the Director for Planning and Sustainable Regeneration, and the Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery. You will regularly engage with both internal and external stakeholders including Greater London Authority, project funders and major landowners, as well as contractors and other delivery partners.

You will demonstrate experience in the development and delivery of high-quality urban design and a thorough understanding of delivering high quality through the planning system. You are expected to have a degree in a related field and expertise in designing and delivering high-quality urban design projects as well as experience of spatial planning, complex negotiations, stakeholder and community engagement, and working with local government. You will be a strategic thinker who also has an eye for detail. You will be both creative and pragmatic. In addition to the person specification, you will be driven to work in a collaborative environment and will be highly motivated and able to prioritise a varied and challenging work programme.

For this role, strong team leadership and project management skills are essential. In addition to the above, you will support the management and expansion of Croydon’s renowned Design Review Panel - a vital part of the planning process which invites leading multi-disciplinary built