Overview
Salary: £49,282 – £53,460 per annum
Strategic Design Lead
Permanent – 37 hours per week
£49,282 – £53,460 per annum
Wychavon District Council is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Strategic Design Lead to champion the creation of high-quality, sustainable, and distinctive places across the district. This is a unique opportunity to shape how our communities grow by leading the design of strategic sites and influencing the character, identity, and functionality of new development through thoughtful, place-led planning.
In this role, you will provide expert urban design advice across a range of strategic projects, including masterplans, development briefs, and design policy. As the Council’s strategic lead, you will manage a small team, set direction, and ensure consistently high standards in design outcomes. Your work will help deliver well-connected, resilient environments that reflect local distinctiveness and meet the needs of current and future communities.
About you
The successful candidate will have:
- A postgraduate qualification in urban design or a related field (e.g. architecture, planning, built environment).
- A strong understanding of the UK planning system, development management, and urban design principles and best practice.
- Extensive experience providing urban design advice on strategic sites and complex projects in both urban and rural contexts.
- Demonstrable ability to develop and apply urban design policy and guidance, including masterplans, concept diagrams, design codes, and development briefs.
- Experience working within local government and navigating political contexts.
- Proven ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary project teams and resolve issues collaboratively.
- Leadership experience, including managing and prioritising the work of an urban design team.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey ideas graphically.
- Proficiency in design and technical tools, including Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD/SketchUp, and GIS.
The Councils are keen to support with the development of its employees and therefore will help with training requirements which are needed for the role. This may also include support towards obtaining recognised qualifications relevant to the post.
You will need to be able to travel throughout the districts.
What We Offer
Our staff are at the heart of what we do. In addition to a rewarding career, we offer a range of attractive benefits:
- Excellent local government pension scheme with employer contributions
- Generous annual leave entitlement, with options to purchase additional leave
- A committed training and development programme
- Onsite nursery with 20% staff discount
- Discounted gym and swim membership
- Health and wellbeing support, including a free Employee Assistance Programme with access to counselling
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee discounts with a range of companies, including EE and the Kaarp discount scheme
We value face-to-face communication, collaboration, and connection. Our roles have an office-based requirement, with some agile working.
To discuss the post or for further information, please call Rebecca L Hart on +44 (0)1386 565384
Closing date: Sunday 7 September 2025
Interview date: Tuesday 16 September 2025
Please note if we experience a high intake of applications, we may close the role and interview for the position sooner than advertised.
Attached documents
Employee Benefits
Job Description
Location: Pershore
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
