Housing Principal| Permanent| Full-Time

Overview

As Principal Housing Officer you will lead Lancashire’s education developer contributions to secure school places for growing communities. You’ll guide cross-department collaboration across planning, housing, and education to align housing growth with educational infrastructure. The role shapes responses to Local Plans and major developments, ensuring funding mechanisms deliver tangible school place outcomes. You will manage performance, reporting, and partnerships to deliver strategic infrastructure for Lancashire’s children and young people.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salary
• hybrid and flexible working
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• generous annual leave entitlement
• extensive learning and development opportunities
• leadership development programmes

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the Developer Education Contribution Programme
• Maximise education contributions from housing developments to ensure sufficient school places
• Analyze long-term school place requirements and housing growth forecasts
• Coordinate and influence Local Plans and major development proposals
• Provide expert advice on planning legislation, policy and developer contributions
• Manage service objectives through project, legal and financial management
• Lead preparation and management of the Infrastructure Funding Statement and reporting
• Oversee negotiation and monitoring of Section 106 Agreements and CIL contributions
• Commission feasibility assessments to support infrastructure planning
• Ensure robust, fit-for-purpose management information systems
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and efficiency
• Develop and manage partnerships with districts, developers and internal stakeholders
• Represent the council at planning hearings and meetings
• Lead, support and develop team members through coaching and performance management

Key requirements

• substantial experience in planning, education infrastructure, housing growth, development management or related field
• ability to manage complex programmes and competing priorities
• highly skilled in stakeholder management and partnership working
• comfortable operating within a political environment
• ability to influence decision-making at senior levels
• confident in presenting, negotiating and defending professional advice
• experience in financial management and governance
• passionate about delivering positive outcomes for Lancashire communities

• stakeholder management
• leadership
• communication
• Section 106 Agreements
• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
• Infrastructure Funding Statement

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