Chief Planning Officer

East Hampshire District Council; Petersfield; On-site; GBP 77,557 - 85,211; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working options

Job summary

A local government authority in Petersfield is seeking a Chief Planning Officer to lead the planning function, manage a dedicated team, and deliver sustainable development. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership abilities and a commitment to public service. This role offers a competitive salary of £77,557- £85,211 per annum along with generous benefits, including annual leave and pension scheme membership.

Qualifications

• Experience in planning and managing teams.
• Ability to lead and inspire others.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning function and team.
• Deliver sustainable development in the district.
• Act as the lead professional planning advisor to the Council.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Communication

Strategic Planning

Job description

Lead Recruitment Consultant - Town Planning

CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER

Location: Petersfield, Hampshire

Salary: £77,557- £85,211 per annum

Employment type: Full-time (Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week) | Permanent

Are you an experienced planner, manager and leader looking for a change? Do you want to lead a team that is collaborative, friendly, and knowledgeable in a beautiful part of the country? Can you rise to the challenge of delivering growth to meet the needs of the district whilst protecting the highest quality of natural and built environment?

This is an exciting time to join us in the newly created Chief Planning Officer role, managing the whole planning function, as we prepare a new development plan and deliver substantial growth with Whitehill and Bordon new town, and a high number of very large major applications in an area including, and surrounded by, heritage, protected landscape and habitats.

This role is within the Operations Directorate. As an organisation we have big ambitions and aspirations for the future of the District and our Council and services.

As our Chief Planning Officer, you’ll be at the helm for communication, leadership, and service excellence. Inspiring and empowering your team to deliver sustainable development in the District; transformative change as well as involvement in the delivery of our Local Plan ahead of Local Government Re‑organisation; use of new planning technology and involvement in an invested enforcement team. You will be the lead professional planning advisor to the Council and its Planning Committee, helping to ensure planning makes a full contribution to the economic, social and environmental well‑being of the District.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Positive: A resilient and flexible leader who is open to change. Someone who will lead their teams to success and be a champion for our values and behaviours.
• Bold: Lead fearlessly, guiding your team towards ambitious goals and ensuring the effective delivery of the strategic and transformation plans of the Council. Look for solutions and work with others to implement them.
• Respectful: Lead and act with integrity, be supportive, instill trust and confidence within your peers, teams and members.
• Results driven: Set challenging goals for yourself and others, taking ownership of your part in the delivery of the Council Strategy and be open to the feedback that comes as part of that.

In return for your hard work and contribution, we can offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme. Take a look at our website for the full range of benefits and support we offer our staff: https://www.easthants.gov.uk/benefits-working-ehdc

The district is home to many different people, and we want our workforce to better reflect our diverse local communities. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. Many of our staff also work flexibly in different ways e.g. part‑time, compressed hours and everything in between; please talk to us about the flexibility you need to do this role.

East Hampshire District Council are working in partnership with Carrington West, a leading Town Planning Recruitment agency. For an informal discussion and further details regarding the Role Profile, please contact Cameron de Wit, on 02393 876014 or email [e-mail].

The closing date for applications is Monday 8th December 2025 with interviews aimed to be held on the week commencing Monday 15th December 2025.

The council is an inclusive employer and appoints on merit. We are a Disability Confident Employer and have a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Veterans.

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff members to share this commitment.