Assistant Planning Enforcement Officer

Durham County Council; North East; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom seeks an Assistant Planning Enforcement Officer to join their Planning Team. This role involves assisting Senior Enforcement Officers in managing enforcement processes and engaging with stakeholders to ensure effective service delivery. Candidates should have an NVQ4 in Business Administration or equivalent, alongside significant experience in development control and a strong customer service approach. The position offers competitive benefits, including flexible working and generous annual leave.

Benefits

Generous annual leave of 27 days

Membership in Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Significant recent experience of development control and planning enforcement procedures.
• Strong communication skills to engage effectively with various stakeholders.
• Ability to manage a case load of minor enforcement complaints.

Responsibilities

• Support Senior Enforcement and Enforcement Officers in delivering enforcement processes.
• Engage with customers, applicants, and stakeholders in the planning service.
• Assist in investigations into significant breaches of planning control.

Skills

customer orientated approach

ability to achieve results

determination

Education

NVQ4 in Business Administration or equivalent

Job description

We have an opportunity for an Assistant Planning Enforcement Officer to join our Planning Team.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

You will form part of a busy area-based development management team and will support the Senior Enforcement and Enforcement Officers in ensuring the effective delivery of the enforcement processes.

You will play an important role in ensuring the service effectively engages with its customers, including the general public, communities, applicants, stakeholders and the development industry in the planning service.

You will assist the work of senior enforcement officers by dealing with a case load of minor enforcement complaints and related minor planning matters. You will also assist the work of the wider enforcement team by supporting investigations into more significant breaches of planning control.

We encourage you to contact Susan Porter, Principal Enforcement Officer via email at [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

Please note that the Council closes down over the Christmas period 24 December until 2 January 2026.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

You will have a NVQ4 in Business Administration or equivalent in a relevant subject or have significant recent experience of development control and planning enforcement procedures and processes or other regulatory enforcement services.

You should have an ability to demonstrate a customer orientated approach to development control and enforcement service delivery. An ability to show determination to achieve results; to see complex projects through to completion is essential.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held week commencing 19 January 2026.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website (https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits-if-you-work-for-us).

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

HOW TO APPLY

Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website (https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/2083/How-to-apply-for-a-job-with-us).

If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email [e-mail].

We welcome applications from disabled people and those who are or consider themselves to be neurodivergent.

All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from [e-mail]. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.

CONNECT WITH US

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dccjobsandcareers/.

Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/durhamcountycounciljobsandcareers.

Visit our website durham.gov.uk/jobsandcareerswithus.

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