Chief Planning Officer

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Chelmsford seeks a Chief Planner to lead and support the Planning Committee. This senior role involves driving significant planning initiatives and engaging with local councils and stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of infrastructure projects. Candidates should have a relevant degree, chartered membership of a recognized professional body, and substantial senior-level experience in planning.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Health and Wellbeing resources

Electric vehicle scheme

Professional fee coverage

Hybrid working arrangements

27 days of holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a relevant field.
• Evidence of professional development in planning.
• Significant post-qualification experience at a senior level.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the Council's Planning Committee.
• Champion and lead the review of Minerals and Waste Local Plans.
• Act as the Council's lead advisor on planning applications.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Town Planning/Geography

Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute

Job description

This is the lead professional role responsible for advising and supporting the Council's Planning Committee. This a senior county planning leadership position, which requires a good understanding and experience of dealing with infrastructure, minerals and waste planning applications and policy.

Overview

The Chief Planner role is critically important to Essex County Council's growth agenda as Essex anticipates significant development by 2050, including large-scale housing developments, Garden Communities, employment sites, and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). The post involves strategic leadership, collaboration with internal and external partners, and ensuring that ECC's interests, residents, and statutory responsibilities are upheld throughout the development and planning process. The role requires a strategic, creative thinker with strong analytical skills who can assess performance, negotiate, challenge constructively, problem-solve, and translate policy ambition into effective implementation. The post leads statutory Local Plans and provides sound recommendations for the approval of major infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the Council's Planning Committee and take responsibility for delegated officer decisions made by ECC as the County Planning Authority for new schools, libraries, roads, flood schemes, and other capital programme major infrastructure projects.
• Lead ECC's statutory planning functions and strategic infrastructure engagement on major capital projects, NSIPs, and complex growth proposals such as Garden Communities.
• Lead and support the Council's Planning Committee and provide expert advice to inform decisions on capital schemes applications and major mineral and waste planning applications. Provide robust, well-evidenced advice and recommendations for Cabinet Members, Councillors and senior officers.
• Champion and lead the review and delivery of ECC's Minerals and Waste Local Plans. Ensure legal and procedural requirements through all stages of the four-year process are met to deliver both Plans effectively through external scrutiny to deliver the land supply of waste and minerals sites Essex needs.
• Act as the Council's lead advisor on all applications and enforcement cases dealt with by ECC, as required by legislation.
• Ensure that planning decisions are policy-compliant, deliver high-quality outcomes, and secure mitigation measures and infrastructure to support sustainable development.
• Act as the Council's lead representation at Public Examinations and Inquiries, managing planning disputes across authorities to minimise risk and secure outcomes aligned with strategic objectives.
• Foster collaborative relationships with all District Councils to align strategic planning interests, support mutual objectives, and ensure ECC's priorities are effectively represented.
• Act as the Council's principal representative on strategic planning applications, including NSIPs, Local Plan Examinations, and Public Inquiries. Promote and protect the Council's interests through engagement with developers, statutory bodies, and external stakeholders. Lead the resolution of complex planning disputes to ensure outcomes align with the Council's objectives and deliver public value.
• Ensure ECC's corporate responses to strategic planning applications on Garden Communities and New Settlements shape outcomes that deliver high-quality development and secure infrastructure funding through developer S106 contributions.
• Ensure that decisions affecting Essex residents are robustly influenced and challenged where necessary to secure the delivery of appropriate infrastructure that meets community needs and aligns with strategic planning objectives.
• Ensure effective collaboration with local councils and key stakeholders to strengthen the quality and consistency of planning responses, align negotiation positions with developers, and secure infrastructure outcomes that support sustainable growth.
• Be mobile throughout the operational area; have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or meet mobility requirements through other means.

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to degree level in a relevant field (e.g. Town Planning/Geography) with an RTPI recognised qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in the relevant professional area. Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent.
• Strong project and programme management skills, with the ability to shape and oversee a diverse portfolio of planning initiatives. Recognised management or leadership training and/or qualifications are desirable.
• Significant post-qualification experience in planning at a senior management level, particularly within the public sector. Proven track record of representing the Council at appeals, Examinations in Public, and Public Inquiries.
• Experience in leading high-performing teams, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and aligning diverse capabilities around shared goals.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex evidence, identify emerging trends and risks, and develop innovative, data-driven solutions to planning challenges.
• Proven ability to influence and engage a wide range of stakeholders, including developers, partners, and communities, with strong negotiation skills to secure positive outcomes.
• Understanding of strategic planning and future growth with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans that shape infrastructure and sustainable development.
• Ability to absorb and understand multiple sources of evidence and effectively lead multi-disciplinary teams on complex planning issues to develop robust and creative solutions.
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external partners to deliver shared priorities.
• Excellent influencing and communication skills, able to challenge robustly and constructively; adept at communicating complex challenges clearly, including shaping planning agenda at a national level (desirable).

Benefits and Equality

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We also interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements. If you require reasonable adjustments during the process, please speak to our Recruiters. We offer a range of employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements. We value integrity and ethical behaviour and ask you to embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles throughout the recruitment process.

• Secure Your Future: Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Health and Wellbeing: Inclusive and supportive working environment with access to wellbeing resources.
• Travel in Style: Electric vehicle scheme.
• Professional Growth: We cover professional fees for approved professions, supporting career development.
• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid working arrangements.
• Generous Time Off: 27 days of holiday, 8 bank holidays, and up to 4 paid volunteer days each year.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme.