Jobs

Across Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent in South Wales, our councils are doing something genuinely different. As Wales’ first and only federated councils, we’re pioneering a new leadership model that brings two sovereign unitary authorities together around shared ambition, aligned leadership and collective impact. Both councils are also the first Marmot councils in Wales, embedding a clear commitment to tackling inequality, improving wellbeing and focusing on long‑term outcomes through everything we do.

This is a deliberate, innovative approach to collaboration, designed to unlock scale, capability and influence that neither council could achieve alone. It provides unprecedented scale and mandate for action to work across two distinct boroughs, with refreshing freedom to innovate and the credibility to influence regional and national conversations about how public services evolve.

As the senior professional lead for statutory planning across both councils, you’ll deliver strategic leadership and operational oversight of planning policy, development management, planning enforcement and building control. As well as leading the teams to work to the highest standards, you’ll ensure that spatial planning supports our ambitious regeneration, sustainability and community wellbeing outcomes. You’ll act as lead subject matter expert to elected members and colleagues, overseeing the Joint Local Development Plan and contributing to shaping regional planning priorities.

A qualified planner, you will bring considerable experience in leading planning services or strategic planning programmes, and will have a sound grasp of development management, planning policy, enforcement, and building control. It’s essential that you have a record of incorporating community empowerment and participatory governance in your career to date, and an understanding of the Marmot framework and its application would be a definite asset.

We want to hear from people who want to build something new, operate at scale, and help shape a model of public service collaboration with national relevance. If that catches your imagination, let’s explore the possibilities together.

For further information, please visit www.faerfield.co.uk/blaenau-and-torfaen To arrange an informal conversation with our advising consultants Dawn Faulkner or Rob Naylor, please call 0121 312 3755.

Closing date: 20 May 2026.

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.

Company: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Salary: £85,456 - £92,027

Location: Blaenau Gwent, Blaenau Gwent

Sector: Corporate Services

Sector: Corporate Management Team

Sector: Regeneration and Local Economies

Job Role: Chief Officer