Deputy Manager – Strategic Planning

12 months Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity

The award-winning Strategic Planning Team at Hackney Council is looking for an experienced town planner to take on the role of Deputy Strategic Planning Manager for a twelve-month period.

During these twelve months, the team will start working on a new Local Plan while also taking two Area Action Plans through examination and adoption. These are important projects that will shape the future of Hackney, and this role presents an exciting opportunity to be involved in the new plan-making system from the very start.

We are looking for a qualified town planner, with experience of delivering planning policy projects and line managing other officers. You will play a key role in the leadership of the Strategic Planning Team, supporting and deputising for the Strategic Planning Manager, overseeing the production of parts of the Local Plan, and managing the adoption of the RTPI award-winning Stamford Hill Area Action Plan, and the examination of the Future Shoreditch Area Action Plan, all designed to deliver our strategic vision to ensure that Hackney is a place where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from growth.

You must have a relevant postgraduate qualification in Town Planning (or equivalent) which provides eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, and ideally have some experience of managing staff.

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 12 Aug 2026 (22:59)

Interview and assessment date: W/C 31 Aug 2026

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our “PROUD” values: Purpose and Respect, where we foster belonging through active inclusion, kindness, and open dialogue; Ownership, where we champion proactive collaboration and accountability for our shared success; and Unity and Diversity, where we work as one Council to break down silos and champion anti-racist behavior.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk

#LI-AO1