Hybrid Principal Planning Officer: Major Developments Lead

Opus People Solutions Limited; Shrewsbury; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Opus People Solutions Limited is seeking an experienced Principal Planning Officer to lead the Development Management team, delivering major developments and guiding complex planning decisions. You will coordinate multi-disciplinary teams, provide expert planning advice, and negotiate planning obligations to secure infrastructure and community benefits.

Based in a hybrid role, you will work with developers, elected members, and partner organisations to achieve successful outcomes, with a focus

Qualifications

• Experience leading major residential developments of 1,000+ units.
• Proven experience managing and determining major planning applications within a Local Authority Development Management environment.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a caseload of major and strategic planning applications and associated appeals.
• Determine planning applications under delegated powers.
• Manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary project teams on complex developments.
• Represent the Council in negotiations with senior external stakeholders, developers, landowners, and planning agents.
• Negotiate planning obligations, legal agreements, trigger points, review mechanisms, and mitigation packages.
• Prepare and present reports to Planning Committee, senior management, and elected members.
• Provide expert professional advice on complex planning matters.
• Support the wider objectives and professional work of the Planning Service.
• Mentor and support junior planning officers where required.
• Build strong working relationships across internal and external stakeholder groups to achieve successful development outcomes.

Job description

Opus People Solutions Limited is seeking an experienced Principal Planning Officer to lead the Development Management team, delivering major developments and guiding complex planning decisions. You will coordinate multi-disciplinary teams, provide expert planning advice, and negotiate planning obligations to secure infrastructure and community benefits.

Based in a hybrid role, you will work with developers, elected members, and partner organisations to achieve successful outcomes, with a focus