Assistant Planning Officer – Development Management

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists for an Assistant Planning Officer at Solihull Council within the Development Management team. This career graded position offers comprehensive training and support for those starting a career in planning, with responsibilities including processing planning applications and ensuring compliance with regulations. The role is set amidst a significant growth programme in the area, providing a chance to contribute to impactful projects.

Benefits

Flexible and agile working including hybrid working

Annual leave starting at 25 days

Access to Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs grade A-C/4-9 required.
• Experience in customer service environment.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills.

Responsibilities

• Support a timely end-to-end planning service.
• Ensure application compliance with planning legislation.
• Provide clear communication to customers and stakeholders.

Skills

Customer Service

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

5 GCSEs grade A-C/4-9 (or equivalent)

Job description

Assistant Planning Officer

Band C/D – Candidates can be recruited at either band level dependent on experience

We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Planning Officerto join our Development Management team here at Solihull Council. This is a career graded post, offering an excellent opportunity for those seeking to kickstart their career in planning. We will provide you with relevant training and focused support from experienced team members to further shape and develop your career

As an Assistant Planning Officer, you will:

• support a timely end to end planning service, processingplanning and allied applications and permitted development enquiries.
• provide a high level of customer service and clear communications to customers, stakeholders and elected members at all stages of the planning lifecycle.
• ensure applications submitted to the local authority follow Solihull Councils’ procedural requirements and comply with planning legislation.

You will need:

• a minimum of 5 GCSE’s grade A-C/4-9 (or equivalent).
• experience of working in a customer service environment, including written, verbal and telephone communication with a range of customers and stakeholders.
• excellent interpersonal skills with the ability and resilience to resolve calls relating to dispute.
• excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to meet fixed deadlines.

Why Solihull? Well, there’s plenty going on to get you out and about in our beautiful borough. UK Central is one of the largest growth programmes in the country capturing development proposals for Birmingham Airport, Jaguar Land Rover, Arden Cross, HS2 and the National Exhibition Centre. In addition, we handle the range of work you would expect of an economically prosperous Authority with primary urban areas, rural villages and a high-quality Green Belt.

We are currently negotiating the complexities of delivering a revised Local Plan and we are also working hard to do what is needed to welcome the arrival of HS2. We pride ourselves in maintaining our historic and natural landscape, and delivering the best developments in the right locations, championing design quality, community benefits and green and blue infrastructure.

With such a big agenda, we are looking for candidates who can provide a prompt and timely end to end planning service and can undertake site visits by car to investigate and act upon alleged breaches of planning control.

In return we can offer:

• A friendly, supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Flexible and agile working including hybrid working.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days and rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service in addition to public holidays and the opportunity to purchase up to 10 additional days holiday per year.
• A generous flexitime scheme (available for most roles) with up to 24 days flexitime allowed per year.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• A wide range of learning and development opportunities.
• A range of family and carer friendly policies.
• Employee benefits including subsidised travel passes, Cycle 2 Work Scheme, confidential Employee Assistance Programme, and staff discounts.

To apply, please click on the link below. If you have a specific question regarding this post, please contact Jon Hallam [e-mail] / 0121 704 6374 or Lucy Duffy [e-mail]

Closing Date for redeployment –13th June 2025

Small enough to care, but big enough to make a difference.

Attached documents
JDPS Assistant Planning Officer August 24.docx