Assistant Director Planning


Company:	Triumph Consultants Ltd
Salary:	£950 to £950 a day
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Tyne and Wear
Job type:	Temporary
Posting date:	13 Oct 2026
Closing date:	11 Nov 2026

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Summary

What's involved with this role:

Job Title: Interim Assistant Director – Planning

Location: Newcastle

Sector: Public Sector – Planning & Regeneration

Ref: 8191

Rate: £800 - £950 pd PAYE (flexible holiday pay options)

Contract: Temporary, 6 months

Working Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Hybrid Working: Hybrid – on-site presence required in line with service needs

The Role

Newcastle is a great city—one that never stands still. A city that makes history and shapes the future. Despite global economic challenges, bold plans are already in motion, and the ambition is clear: to make the city better than ever.

We are seeking an Interim Assistant Director of Planning to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the city. This is a senior leadership position overseeing a significant service area, large-scale budgets, and cross-council responsibilities, ensuring high-quality, value-for-money services that deliver meaningful outcomes for residents.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership across a major service area, ensuring delivery of quality, consistent and value-for-money services through effective business planning and performance management

Translate political priorities into operational delivery—embedding cooperative values and ensuring the Cabinet’s vision is reflected throughout the service

Lead, develop and empower managers and staff, fostering an outcome-focused culture that supports personal achievement and addresses underperformance

Drive innovation in service delivery, engaging councillors, partners, communities and stakeholders to improve outcomes and champion regeneration ambitions

Oversee statutory planning functions, ensuring compliance with national policy, professional standards and performance targets

Build and strengthen partnerships locally, regionally and nationally to support strategic priorities and promote the organisation’s role in planning and development

Represent the service at senior forums, networks and external events, providing clear professional advice within a political environment

You Will Need (Essential Requirements)

Proven senior leadership experience within a complex planning or development environment, with a strong track record in development management and regeneration

Highly developed professional and legislative knowledge of national planning policy, statutory requirements and local government frameworks

Ability to work effectively within a political environment, demonstrating political awareness, sensitivity and credibility with senior stakeholders

Strong partnership-building skills with established networks across public and private sectors at local, regional and national levels

RTPI membership (essential)

Desirable Experience

Experience promoting planning at regional or national level

Commercial awareness with the ability to identify income generation opportunities and deliver efficiencies

Evidence of collaborative leadership within a senior team

Strong business acumen with well-developed financial and risk management skills

Ability to think strategically and analyse complex data and trends to inform decision-making

How to Apply

If you meet the essential criteria, please send your CV, rate expectation (in line with the above) and confirmation of Right to Represent confirmation to: toni.coates@tclrec.com

Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.

Job Ref: 5307908

Anticipated Length of Assignment: Unless otherwise stated (we do carry the occasional permanent vacancy) all of our roles are technically temporary, though opening assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Please do try to resist contacting us with requests for progress updates.

We really do read every CV sent to us. All applications will be acknowledged by a human, not a robot, provided the job remains live and provided your CV meets the “Essential Requirements” listed.

Please note that we do our level best to take down ads as soon as roles have been filled. We are not in the business of harvesting CVs.

Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary.

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