West Yorkshire Combined Authority is delivering a transformative Mass Transit scheme to connect communities, reduce congestion and support sustainable growth across the region. As a key partner, Leeds City Council is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Team Leader within the Planning and Sustainable Development team to collaborate effectively with internal colleagues and external partners, providing expert guidance to support the successful delivery of a major infrastructure project in the city.
This role offers a unique opportunity to lead on development management matters related to the delivery of the Mass Transit scheme. You will play a key role in ensuring a high-quality outcome through planning, stakeholder engagement and statutory processes, including the Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) and representation at public inquiries.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
For other posts related to West Yorkshire Mass Transit, please search ‘Mass Transit’ in the keyword field.
About you
As a Team Leader you will bring to the role:
- Degree or equivalent qualification providing membership/exemption for relevant professional body, or for Compliance, demonstration of significant successful and relevant experience at management level.
- The ability to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex problems in a complex and multidisciplinary environment.
- Detailed knowledge of the statutory and policy framework within which planning decisions are made.
- Experience of leading and working in a multidisciplinary team environment. Experience in managing or contributing to strategic transport-related projects would be considered an advantage.
- Management experience in a relevant service or organisation.
About the role
As a Team Leader, you will play a key role in assessing, managing and advising on the impacts of the Mass Transit system to ensure they align with local and national planning policies, including environmental and design standards.
This is a unique opportunity to apply your planning expertise within a forward-thinking local authority, where your insights will directly shape the future of the built environment. Key responsibilities of the role will include:
- Contributing to statutory and regulatory processes, including the preparation of Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAO), and representing the organisation in formal proceedings such as public inquiries.
- Leading on pre-application discussions and a project managed approach to planning proposals and decisions.
- Drafting of robust planning conditions relevant to the project to ensure compliance with relevant planning policies and guidance.
- Contributing to effective joint working within the council and across the city. Provide direction and support to colleagues, clients and immediate line reports, creating an organisational culture of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.
- Managing and playing a key role in the development of staff within the workplace, including thorough undertaking of staff appraisals, training and mentoring.
The service is based in Merrion House in Leeds City Centre, but has adopted a flexible, hybrid working model.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
Please note that the invites for interview will be issued in January 2026.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose: Working as part of the team, you will live and model values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country. Your role will be important in ensuring the Council is more enterprising and efficient and ensuring that the authority has in place proper arrangements for the administration and delivery of projects. The role operates within the context of the Council’s Business Plan Objective to increase efficiency.
The Team Leader will be responsible for providing leadership, advice, challenge, information, and guidance of multidisciplinary teams across P&SD. The post holder will be responsible for monitoring and managing the provision of those functions identified by the business and to ensure the council’s business plan is achieved.
The post holder will be able to demonstrate relevant skills and experience in delivering and managing significant aspects of service and business priorities, and will be responsible for providing leadership within the appropriate function.
Responsibilities for Grade:
To lead and manage a defined range of the Service’s activities to:
- Direct resources to specific projects and programmes of work, as agreed with the Chief Planning Officer, relevant Head of Service or Group Manager;
- Ensure delivery of services to customers which meet agreed performance targets;
- Ensure that legislative requirements and relevant professional standards are met or exceeded;
- Contribute to service improvements to promote effective and efficient working, including through better use of information management technology;
- Assist in the wider delivery of Service and Council objectives;
- Ensure that staff are coached, developed and trained as appropriate including through the carrying out of staff appraisals.
To deputise as appropriate for the Chief Planning Officer, relevant Head of Service or Group Manager.
To work with elected members, service users and community representatives, and other stakeholders in ways which support open, responsive and accountable government, ensuring good governance compliance with financial and procurement procedures.
To be personally involved in casework of a complex, high profile or politically sensitive nature, including contact with elected Members, with the media and involvement in customer service complaint and Ombudsman investigations.
To represent the Council in a professional capacity as required at public hearings, inquiries and examinations; and to represent the Council at public meetings and in other public forums.
As appropriate to the specific range of duties associated with a particular post, to provide required professional advice to elected members, Council officers, and service users.
Plan, organise, co-ordinate, deliver, control and monitor areas of work within a context of budget pressures and funding restrictions.
Contribute to effective joint working within the council and across the city. Provide direction and support to colleagues, clients and immediate line reports, creating an organisational culture of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.
Promote new ways of working, partnership working and long term relationships with key clients both internal and external to the council, to improve corporate priority outcomes and to ensure that developments and improvements remain focused on delivering outcomes for local people.
Promote and support positive solutions to achieve diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement activity and human resource areas.
Manage all aspects of risk and be responsible for the safety of staff, clientsand contractors in accordance with all statutory obligations and relevant health and safety policies.
Advise on and ensure compliance with the council’s governance framework, Contract Procedure Rules, Financial Procedure Rules, relevant legislation, internal procedures, and statutory undertakings; and maintain and contribute to the development of quality accreditations where appropriate for services.
Maintain knowledge and pursue continuous personal development in relation to relevant specialist subject matter, and local, regional and national issues.
To carry out any other duties as may be required which are commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the post.
Qualifications: Degree or equivalent qualification providing membership/exemption for relevant professional body, or for Compliance, demonstration of significant successful and relevant experience at management level.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.
Skills Required
- Ability to analyse and present complex information in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational formats, with the ability to make technical or specialist information understood to non-specialists
- Ability to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex problems in a complex and multidisciplinary environment
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage, influence, negotiate and to form positive relationships with a range of stakeholders and partners i.e. elected Members, major developers, local communities , press and media
- Ability to employ a range of management styles which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes
- Ability to influence and give appropriate professional advice at a senior management level
- Ability to coach and mentor staff and other managers effectively to develop a culture of high performance
Knowledge Required
- In-depth knowledge of the statutory and policy framework within which planning decisions are made
- In-depth understanding of how planning can contribute to the delivery of high-quality sustainable development and the achievement of sustainable communities
Experience Required
- Management experience in a relevant service or organisation
- Experience of managing and controlling budgets and resources
- Experience of leading and working in a multi-disciplinary team environment
- Experience in challenging existing ways of working and driving through change, with a good understanding of managing change and its importance in delivering sustainable change
- Experience in promoting, leading and implementing improvement activity that improves service quality and supports a culture that drives up standards and performance
- Experience in managing and contributing to delivery within complex environments involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes
- Significant experience in delivering public presentations to a range of audiences
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
- Demonstrate drive, energy , resilience and self-management skills as well as integrity, openness and awareness of others
- Provide leadership and team working skills including ability to work with and through others; implements corporate decisions with energy and vigour
- Ensure citizens and council members are provided with all relevant information to make decisions; learns from mistakes and seeks to promote continuous improvement and best practice
- Work effectively with a variety of partners organisations to deliver services; communicates and involves stakeholders and the wider community in new developments to encourage ownership and commitment
- Recognise that everyone has an equally important part to play within the Council and valuing the diverse and vibrant nature of the city and all its citizens
- Sets high expectations of achievement across a range of strategic outcomes, actively seeks out opportunities to improve delivery of services through partnership and feedback from service users.
