Planning Officer

MALDON DISTRICT COUNCIL; Heybridge; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Maldon District Council, with Essex County Council support, is recruiting a Planning Officer on a three-month temporary basis. The role requires attendance on-site two days per week to help deliver planning services balancing community, environmental, and regulatory considerations.

Responsibilities include processing planning applications, preparing recommendations, and supporting planning strategies and projects to enable sustainable growth and positive community outcomes.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Planning or related discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• Understanding of planning system, legislation, and local/national policies.
• Awareness of sustainable development and public sector customer service standards.

Responsibilities

• Assist in processing planning applications and ensuring compliance with legislation and local policies.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, and planning advice for Members, developers and the public.
• Support development of planning strategies, policies and projects for sustainable growth.
• Maintain accurate records and planning databases, ensuring data protection compliance.
• Contribute to consultations and opportunities for process improvements.

Skills

Planning knowledge

Policy understanding

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Undergraduate degree in Planning/Urban Planning/Geography/Environmental Management

Tools

GIS

Digital systems

Job description

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Maldon District Council to recruit a Planning Officer on a three-month temporary basis. Please note that this role requires 2 days a week site attendance. Role Purpose: To provide a range of timely and effective guidance, ensuring compliance, good practice, risk management and enabling the Council to deliver for its customers.

• To support the planning team in delivering high-quality planning services that balance community, environmental, and regulatory considerations.
• The assessment and processing of planning applications, ensuring compliance with legislation, local policies, and national planning guidance.
• The preparation of reports, recommendations, and planning advice for internal and external stakeholders, including Members, developers, and the public.
• To support the development and delivery of planning strategies, policies, and projects that enable sustainable growth and positive community outcomes.
• To maintain accurate records and databases, ensuring information is up-to-date, accessible, and compliant with data protection requirements., The assessment and processing of planning applications, ensuring adherence to relevant legislation, policies, and guidance.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, and supporting documentation for internal and external stakeholders, including Members, developers, and the public.
• Support the implementation and development of local planning policies, strategies, and projects to deliver sustainable development outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records and planning databases, ensuring information is up-to-date, accessible, and compliant with data protection requirements.
• Contribute to consultations with internal teams, external agencies, and community stakeholders, providing advice and guidance as required.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements, supporting initiatives to enhance efficiency, customer service, and compliance within the planning service.
• Develop professional knowledge and expertise in planning practice, legislation, and policy, applying learning to support effective decision-making.
• Provide professional support to more senior planners and contribute to collaborative team projects, including research, data analysis, and policy development, Maldon District Council is an equal opportunities employer and therefore all staff are expected to comply with our equality policies and help create a work environment in which everyone is treated with dignity, respect, courtesy and fairness. You are also expected to fully comply with health and safety policies and procedures in force to help maintain and develop a safe working environment. In pursuing a practice of continuous improvement and seeking to obtain best value in all aspects of the service, staff will be expected to assist in other such duties as may be allocated for the benefit of the organisation and their own personal development. Staff will be expected to assist if the council has to deal with the results of a civil emergency.

• An undergraduate degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Geography, Environmental Management, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Eligibility to work towards Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) or equivalent professional body.
• Understanding of the planning system, relevant legislation, and national and local planning policies.
• Awareness of sustainable development principles and their application in a local authority context.
• Knowledge of customer service standards and approaches in a public sector environment.
• Understanding of data protection and information management principles.
• Awareness of planning procedures, including consultations, enforcement, and community engagement.
• Familiarity with digital systems, GIS, and other IT tools used in planning service delivery is desirable.