Maidstone Borough Council: Principal Conservation Officer

The Institute Of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC); Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Maidstone is seeking a Principal Conservation Officer to manage planning applications and advise on heritage conservation. The role requires extensive heritage conservation experience and a Master’s degree in a related field. This is a full-time, permanent position offering flexible hybrid working and generous benefits.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Qualified heritage conservationist with relevant degree.
• Extensive experience in the historic environment.
• Knowledge of UK planning context and local authority.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of planning applications.
• Advise on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas.
• Produce Conservation Area appraisals and management plans.

Skills

Heritage conservation

Excellent communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master’s degree in Historic Building Conservation or related discipline

Job description

Principal Conservation Officer – Maidstone Borough Council

Posted on 28/10/2025 by IHBC

Salary: £44,043 – £47,999 per annum (Grade 11) with up to £5,000 market supplement and essential car user allowance.

Employment Type: Full time (37 hrs per week), permanent

Location: Maidstone, Kent

About The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced individual to join the Heritage, Landscape and Trees team, as one of our heritage conservation specialists within the Development Management service at Maidstone Borough Council. You will work effectively with partners and customers, collaborating and negotiating on new development proposals. Your workload will include dealing with your own caseload of planning applications, advising and providing guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas relating to impacts and effects of new development, as well as offering advice on Urban Design and repair and maintenance issues. As Principal Conservation Officer, you will also be responsible for the production of Conservation Area appraisals and management plans and contribute to Design Codes, local planning policy and corporate projects.

This is a full‑time position on a permanent contract, working 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday, on a hybrid basis. We would also consider part‑time working.

About Maidstone Borough Council

Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths – assets, knowledge and expertise – and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans. We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people.

You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.

Maidstone is situated in the heart of Kent and is the county town. The urban centre has a strong commercial and retail base with good transport links but is set in a generally rural area, which includes the Kent Downs and the Kent Low Weald AONBs. The borough is fortunate to benefit from a diverse and valued heritage with 41 Conservation Areas, over 2,000 Listed Buildings, 28 Scheduled Monuments and 15 historic parks and gardens.

In recent years, Maidstone has experienced unprecedented growth and we are in a great position to shape this growth with a genuine commitment to respecting the character and heritage of the borough and achieving high quality design.

At Maidstone Borough Council, we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits it can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities, we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such, we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.

Our Offer

• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years’ LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave
• Additional 3 days’ leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New Year
• Free parking
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9‑day fortnight, and part‑time
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan – to help with the cost of your rail/bus journey to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand‑new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
• Annual flu vaccine
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits, including discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role

About You

As Principal Conservation Officer, you will be a qualified heritage conservationist, with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Historic Building Conservation, Architectural Conservation, Urban Design or a related discipline, and have an established professional membership of IHBC, RIBA or RTPI. You will be able to demonstrate extensive experience of specialist work in the historic environment, and a full understanding of the local authority and UK planning context. You will have worked effectively with stakeholders to develop heritage guidance and/or Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans. You will have excellent communication skills and be competent in preparing and presenting expert evidence at Committee meetings, Court hearings and/or public inquiries. A full UK driving licence is essential, with the ability to travel across the borough to attend sites, as required.

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect a job‑specific interview assessment, followed by an interview. As part of the interview process, you will be required to give a short presentation to the panel, using PowerPoint slides.

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

To discuss this position, please contact Anna Stevens, Landscapes Team Leader, at [e-mail]

Further information and APPLY: To apply for the position, please visit https://www.maidstone.gov.uk/jobs and complete the online application form or by phone on 01622 602555.

Closing Date: 16th November 2025

Interview Date: w/c 24th November 2025