Assistant Planner (Policy and Delivery)

Suffolk County Council; Lowestoft; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training & development

Generous leave

LGPS

Free parking

Discounts

Job summary

East Suffolk Council in Lowestoft is seeking a Planner or Assistant Planner to help shape Local Plans and neighbourhood planning. You will work with planning professionals to prepare, monitor, implement and interpret local guidance, balancing growth with community needs, while supporting communities in delivery.

At Planner level you will lead projects; the Assistant Planner route provides RTPI accreditation access, with development opportunities and flexible working.

Qualifications

• Experience with planning policy and neighbourhood planning.
• Ability to analyse information, interpret data and prepare clear reports.
• Progression to RTPI membership through accredited qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to preparation, monitoring and interpretation of Local Plans.
• Support communities in developing and delivering Neighbourhood Plans.
• Lead and manage projects at Planner level where required.
• Collaborate with senior planners and other teams to deliver planning guidance.

Skills

Planning policy

Neighbourhood planning

Data analysis

Report writing

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

RTPI-accredited master’s degree

Tools

GIS

Planning systems

Document management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

• East Suffolk Council,East Suffolk House, Melton, Woodbridge and Riverside, Lowestoft
• £32,578 to £44,253 per annum
• Band 5/7 (SCP 18 to 32)
• 37 hours per week
• Permanent

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk. We currently have an exciting new opportunity to join the East Suffolk Planning Policy and Delivery Team as a Planner or Assistant Planner.

With a population of a quarter of a million people, East Suffolk is a large and diverse district, ranging from the significant port towns of Felixstowe and Lowestoft, to picturesque market towns, to stunning countryside and coastline, with a substantial part of the area falling within the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape.

Working alongside several other planning professionals in the team you will have a key role in the preparation, monitoring, implementation and interpretation of Local Plans and guidance documents, as well as supporting communities in preparing and delivering Neighbourhood Plans.

We have just started work a new Local Plan for East Suffolk. Joining our team now, you will be involved in the preparation of the Local Plan throughout its preparation, helping to shape the strategy and direction in planning for future growth and balancing the variety of considerations that a diverse district brings.

At Planner level (£36,581 - £44,253pa) you will be involved in a range and breadth of exciting projects and be expected to lead on and manage some projects. Whilst some experience would be desirable post-qualification experience is not necessary and you will be supported by the Senior and Principal Planners in the team.

The Assistant Planner role provides an opportunity for you to attain a planning post-graduate qualification providing access to progress to Planner level and to become a full member of the RTPI. At Assistant Planner level (£32,578 - £35,570pa), you would also be involved in a similar range and breadth of projects, at an appropriate level and with the support of senior members of the team to develop your knowledge and skills.

Progression to Planner requires undertaking and successfully completing an RTPI-accredited master’s qualification, supported by a significant commitment to study alongside work. Upon achieving an RTPI-accredited degree and eligibility for full RTPI membership, you can progress to Planner level, taking a leading role in developing planning policy, preparing associated planning documents, and helping shape the future growth and development of East Suffolk.

You will need:

We're looking for a motivated and organised professional with a strong interest in planning policy and place-making. You'll have experience, or a developing understanding, of planning policy, neighbourhood planning and the wider planning system.

You will be confident analysing information, interpreting data and producing clear, accurate reports and recommendations. Strong problem-solving, analytical and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to present information effectively to a range of audiences, including colleagues, elected members, stakeholders, developers and local communities.

You'll be able to manage competing priorities, work to deadlines and organise your workload effectively, while also contributing positively as part of a collaborative team. We are looking for someone who can build effective working relationships, engage with diverse stakeholders and demonstrate confidence when influencing, negotiating and representing the Council.

You should be proficient in Microsoft Office applications, have good general IT skills, and ideally have experience of using planning-related systems, GIS and document management software. An understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing urban and rural communities would be advantageous.

For Planner-level appointments, candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong grounding in planning policy and practice, and the ability to contribute to the successful delivery of planning projects and priorities.

If you think you might have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all of the essential requirements, we want to hear from you and look forward to having the opportunity to consider your application.

Why work for us?

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work.

In addition to the rural and urban diversity of East Suffolk itself, the district is close to the large urban centres of both Norwich and Ipswich, with rail services providing access to the Council’s offices by train. We might be 'on the edge' but we can be accessed easily from a wide area (jpg) and offer flexible and remote working in a dynamic team.

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Great opportunities for training and development
• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 24 days a year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
• Local government pension scheme
• Free car parking (for when you are working in the office)
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.

Please see our benefits brochure for further information.

Most of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were the successful candidate, please contact the recruiting manager listed at the bottom of this advert.

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Andrea McMillan, Planning Manager (Policy and Delivery) at [e-mail] or 01394 444567

Closing date: Midday, Wednesday 25th November 2026

Interview date: Week Commencing 7th December 2026 or Week Commencing 14th December 2026