Planning Officer

North Northamptonshire Council; Geddington; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits scheme

Wellbeing support

Hybrid and flexible working

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council is seeking a Planning professional to shape development policy, manage applications and provide expert guidance across planning policy, development management and enforcement. You will support senior officers, engage communities and help deliver a sustainable local plan and placemaking initiatives.

Role requires adapting to evolving planning legislation, strong communication and superb organisational skills, with frequent site visits and multi-department

Qualifications

• A relevant degree or equivalent qualification to allow future access to Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent).
• Demonstration of a Personal Development Plan that explains a commitment via Licentiate, Associate or the Experienced Practitioner route, to achieving Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent).
• Conversant with policy documents, plans, maps and architectural drawings.
• Understanding of the English Planning System.
• Experience of using computer databases, and Microsoft packages such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Good communication skills
• Report writing skills
• Able to deliver excellent customer service under pressure
• Good organisational skills
• Able to travel independently to multiple sites across the Council's administrative area to undertake site visits on a frequent basis (3-5 times a week), or further away to attend meetings and events on behalf of the Council. For example, the ability to drive with access to own transport.
• Good time management skills
• The ability to carry out site visits or investigations on a variety of outdoor door locations including domestic properties, overgrown site with uneven ground conditions, and building sites

Responsibilities

• Support senior planning officers and managers in delivering Planning Service objectives.
• Provide excellent customer service and respond to planning-related enquiries.
• Contribute to service improvements, process reviews and system enhancements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of planning legislation, policies and best practice.
• Produce accurate, high-quality work within agreed timescales.
• Attend evening and weekend meetings, committees and public consultation events.
• Assist in developing planning policies, design guidance and Local Plan documents.
• Undertake research and gather evidence to support policy development and place-shaping initiatives.
• Engage with communities, stakeholders and partners through consultations and public events.
• Analyse planning data, monitor trends and maintain planning databases and monitoring systems.
• Provide planning policy advice on applications, corporate projects and infrastructure planning.
• Prepare reports, statements and evidence for planning appeals, examinations and legal proceedings.
• Support the procurement and management of specialist planning consultants.
• Help develop and utilise planning technology, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Validate planning applications and process planning submissions.
• Manage a caseload of planning applications and planning enforcement investigations.
• Conduct site visits, consultations and assessments, making recommendations in line with planning policy.
• Prepare and present reports for Planning Committee meetings.
• Negotiate improvements to development proposals.
• Advise applicants, developers, residents and stakeholders on planning matters.
• Work collaboratively with internal departments and external organisations to achieve positive planning outcomes.
• Represent the Council at hearings, inquiries and court proceedings where required.
• Assist with complaints handling and support investigations undertaken by the Local Government Ombudsman.

Skills

Policy knowledge

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Relevant degree

Plan institute access plan (Licentiate/Associate/Experienced Practitioner route)

Tools

GIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Shape Places, Influence Communities, Deliver Positive Change Join a dynamic Planning Service where you'll play a key role in shaping the future of North Northamptonshire. Working across Planning Policy, Development Management and Enforcement, you will lead and support a range of planning projects, helping to develop planning policies, guidance and evidence that influence how the area grows and develops. Alongside this, you will manage planning applications and appeals, provide expert advice to customers and colleagues, and investigate breaches of planning control, taking appropriate enforcement action where required. This varied role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on local communities by supporting sustainable development, protecting environmental quality and ensuring a fair, effective and trusted planning system.What will you be doing?

• Support senior planning officers and managers in delivering Planning Service objectives.
• Provide excellent customer service and respond to planning-related enquiries.
• Contribute to service improvements, process reviews and system enhancements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of planning legislation, policies and best practice.
• Produce accurate, high-quality work within agreed timescales.
• Attend evening and weekend meetings, committees and public consultation events.
• Assist in developing planning policies, design guidance and Local Plan documents.
• Undertake research and gather evidence to support policy development and place-shaping initiatives.
• Engage with communities, stakeholders and partners through consultations and public events.
• Analyse planning data, monitor trends and maintain planning databases and monitoring systems.
• Provide planning policy advice on applications, corporate projects and infrastructure planning.
• Prepare reports, statements and evidence for planning appeals, examinations and legal proceedings.
• Support the procurement and management of specialist planning consultants.
• Help develop and utilise planning technology, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Validate planning applications and process planning submissions.
• Manage a caseload of planning applications and planning enforcement investigations.
• Conduct site visits, consultations and assessments, making recommendations in line with planning policy.
• Prepare and present reports for Planning Committee meetings.
• Negotiate improvements to development proposals.
• Advise applicants, developers, residents and stakeholders on planning matters.
• Work collaboratively with internal departments and external organisations to achieve positive planning outcomes.
• Represent the Council at hearings, inquiries and court proceedings where required.
• Assist with complaints handling and support investigations undertaken by the Local Government Ombudsman.

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are: Customer-focused Respectful Efficient Supportive Trustworthy Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A relevant degree or equivalent qualification to allow future access to Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent).
• Demonstration of a Personal Development Plan that explains a commitment via Licentiate, Associate or the Experienced Practitioner route, to achieving Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent).
• Conversant with policy documents, plans, maps and architectural drawings.
• Understanding of the English Planning System.
• Experience of using computer databases, and Microsoft packages such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word and Outlook
• Good communication skills
• Report writing skills
• Able to deliver excellent customer service under pressure
• Good organisational skills
• Able to travel independently to multiple sites across the Council's administrative area to undertake site visits on a frequent basis (3-5 times a week), or further away to attend meetings and events on behalf of the Council. For example, the ability to drive with access to own transport.
• Good time management skills
• The ability to carry out site visits or investigations on a variety of outdoor door locations including domestic properties, overgrown site with uneven ground conditions, and building sites

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we're transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You'll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think! Why choose us? We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.