Graduate Town Planner

Coventry City Council; Coventry; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Local government pension scheme

Lifestyle discounts

Flexible working arrangements

Inclusive employee networks

Employee assistance programme

Certified training courses

Job summary

Coventry City Council's Planning Service is inviting applications for a Graduate Town Planner. This role focuses on developing professional planning skills across development management, policy work, urban design and monitoring in a supportive, learning-forward environment.

You will work with experienced planners, gain broad exposure to planning processes, and pursue ongoing professional development towards a Master's degree and Chartered status.

Qualifications

• Degree in Town Planning or related field and willingness to pursue a Master's in Planning.
• Strong written, verbal and face-to-face communication skills.
• Ability to interpret plans, maps and drawings with good attention to detail.
• Organise workload, prioritise deadlines and work well in a team.

Responsibilities

• Support processing of planning applications, lawful development certificates and pre-application enquiries.
• Assist Planning Policy work including Local Plan research and policy documents.
• Gain experience in Urban Design and Heritage and how design shapes Coventry.
• Support planning monitoring and delivery activities across the service.

Skills

Interest in planning

Communication skills

Attention to detail

IT aptitude

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related discipline

Job description

Are you looking to start or develop your career in Town Planning and help shape the future of Coventry?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Graduate Town Planner to join Coventry City Council’s Planning Service.

Coventry is a diverse, growing and ambitious city, and this role provides an excellent opportunity to develop your professional planning career while contributing to the sustainable growth, development and regeneration of the city.

What is the role?

As a Graduate Town Planner, you will provide an efficient, effective and customer-focused professional planning service, supporting the sustainable growth and regeneration of Coventry.

A key focus of the role is your professional development. You will have the opportunity to gain broad experience across the Planning Service, spending time working within areas including:

• Development Management – supporting the processing of planning applications, lawful development certificates, prior approvals and pre-application enquiries.
• Planning Policy – supporting research and contributing to the Local Plan and other planning policy documents.
• Urban Design and Heritage – gaining experience in how good design, heritage and the historic environment influence the development of the city.
• Planning monitoring and delivery – supporting monitoring, performance information and other areas of the wider planning function.

These opportunities reflect the breadth of experience contained within the Graduate Town Planner role.

You will work alongside experienced planning professionals, developing your technical knowledge and practical skills while gaining an understanding of how planning decisions and policies shape Coventry's communities, neighbourhoods and future development.

We want this role to provide you with a strong foundation for a successful career in planning.

Ideally, you will continue your professional development through further learning, with support to work towards a Master's degree in Planning and ultimately Chartered Town Planner status.

You will have opportunities to develop your experience across different areas of the service, build your professional planning knowledge and gain practical experience of working within a busy local authority Planning Service.

Who are we looking for?

Do you hold a degree or equivalent qualification in Town Planning or a related discipline, which would enable you to continue your professional development as part of a Master's degree in Planning?

Alternatively, do you have experience of working within a Planning Team and want to formally pursue a graduate-level planning qualification?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a genuine interest in Town Planning and the development of places and communities.
• Is enthusiastic about developing a professional career in planning.
• Has good written, verbal and face-to-face communication skills.
• Can interpret plans, maps and drawings and has good attention to detail.
• Can organise and prioritise their workload and work to deadlines.
• Is confident using IT and digital systems.
• Can work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Has a positive, flexible and customer-focused approach.
• Is willing to learn, develop and undertake further professional tra ining.

These requirements align with the existing Grade 4 person specification, which emphasises an interest in Town Planning, communication, mapping and drawing appreciation, IT capability, customer care, prioritisation and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

What you'll get from us

This is more than an opportunity to secure your first professional planning role. It is an opportunity to build your planning career within one of the UK's most diverse and ambitious cities.

You'll gain practical experience across different planning disciplines, work alongside experienced professionals and have the opportunity to contribute to real projects and decisions that influence Coventry's future.

If you are enthusiastic, keen to learn and want to develop into a professional Town Planner, we'd love to receive your application.

Right to Work

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

What we offer?

At Coventry City Council, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development, and work-life balance:

• Competitive salary with incremental progression and salary matching
• Generous annual leave starting at 28 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays) with option to purchase more and rising to 33 days following 5 years service.
• Generous local government pension scheme to help plan for your future
• Lifestyle discounts across a wide range of activities and retailers
• Flexible working arrangements to support your personal and professional needs
• Inclusive Employee Networks: EmbRace, Pride, Disability, Young people, and Women
• Employee Assistance Programme offering confidential support
• Certified training courses to help you grow and thrive

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'.

We recognise that AI is now part of everyday life and can be a helpful tool when used appropriately. However, applications should reflect your own skills and experience. If there is clear evidence that AI has been used to complete an application, it may be rejected unless a reasonable explanation can be provided that would be considered as acceptable.

At Coventry, we're building a workforce that reflects our diverse communities. Guided by our One Coventry Values, we celebrate inclusion, diversity of thought, and lived experience.

We especially welcome applicants from minority ethnic/global majority, LGBT+, those with a disability, and neurodiverse backgrounds – your voice can help shape a fairer future for our residents. Find out more here - https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - One Friargate, Station Square, Coventry