Planning Officer (4 Posts)

Barnsley Council; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

RTPI membership support

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Barnsley Council is seeking talented planning professionals to join the Planning Policy team. You will help shape the future of Barnsley by supporting the Local Plan, policy development, and evidence gathering across a dynamic urban area.

You'll work in a hybrid setup with IT and data-driven planning, collaborating with residents, developers and partners to deliver sustainable growth and vibrant places for communities across the borough.

Qualifications

• Experience of planning policy, spatial planning or related work.
• Strong analytical, report-writing and research skills.
• Ability to communicate confidently with a wide range of audiences.
• Collaborative approach and ability to build effective working relationships.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Support preparation, progression, implementation and monitoring of Barnsley's Local Plan.
• Develop IT solutions including GIS and MS365 to support Local Plan preparation.
• Contribute to planning policies responding to local priorities and national reform.
• Prepare evidence studies, consultation materials, reports and policy documents.
• Collaborate with officers, councillors, communities and partners.

Skills

Planning policy experience

Spatial planning

Analytical skills

Report writing

Communication

Collaboration

Project management

Tools

GIS

MS365

Job description

Position Reference

50147511, 50008335, 50147512, 50034878

Key Details

• Directorate: Place | Service: Planning, Policy & Building Control
• Salary: £29,542 - £47,665 (career grade)
• Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working
• Hours per week: 37
• Contract type: Permanent
• Closing date: 27/11/2026 at 23:59
• This post requires a Basic Criminal Record Check
• Prospective employees will be required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (6 months or more in the past 3 years) of time living abroad.

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.

We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.

There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent Planning, Policy & Building Control team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

Benefits

• We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
• Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
• If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
• We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
• There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
• Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post

Help Shape the Future of Barnsley

Barnsley is a borough with ambition, confidence and a clear vision for the future. Across the borough, we’re delivering transformational regeneration projects, planning for new homes and communities, supporting investment and infrastructure, and creating places where people and businesses can thrive.

As we embark on preparing our next Local Plan under a changing national planning system, there has never been a more exciting time to join Barnsley's Planning Service.

We’re looking for talented planning professionals to join our welcoming, ambitious and highly respected Planning Policy team. Whether you’re developing your career or looking for your next challenge, we offer the opportunity to work on projects that will have a lasting impact on the future of the borough.

This is your chance to help shape how Barnsley grows over the coming decades, influencing strategic decisions on housing, employment, infrastructure, climate resilience, town centres and place-making, while contributing to a vision that will benefit communities for generations to come.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the preparation, progression, implementation and monitoring of Barnsley's new Local Plan.
• Supporting the development of IT solutions including Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and MS365 packages to help drive forward preparation of the Local Plan and the wider digital planning agenda.
• Supporting the development of planning policies that respond to local priorities and national planning reform.
• Contributing to the preparation of evidence studies, consultation material, reports and policy documents.
• Working collaboratively with officers, councillors, communities, developers, infrastructure providers, neighbouring authorities, statutory consultees and consultants.
• Helping to shape strategies that support sustainable growth, regeneration, housing delivery and economic development.
• Contributing to the creation of attractive, healthy and resilient places across the borough.
• Presenting evidence and representing the Council at examinations, hearings, inquiries and public meetings with support from senior officers.
• Supporting the delivery of key corporate priorities and long-term growth ambitions.

No two days are the same. You’ll work on a diverse and rewarding range of projects that help shape the physical, social and economic future of Barnsley.

About You

We’re looking for enthusiastic and motivated planning professionals who want to make a real difference.

You may already be working in planning policy, development management, consultancy or a related field and be looking to broaden your experience within a forward-thinking local authority.

We're Interested In People Who Can Demonstrate

• Experience of planning policy, spatial planning or related work.
• A good understanding of the planning system and the role of Local Plans in shaping sustainable growth.
• Strong analytical, report-writing and research skills.
• The ability to communicate confidently with a wide range of audiences.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for communities and places.

Most importantly, we’re looking for people who share our passion for creating great places and who want to play a meaningful role in Barnsley's future.

Why Join Barnsley?

At Barnsley, planning is at the heart of delivering our ambitions. You’ll join a supportive, collaborative and forward-thinking service where your contribution is valued and your development is encouraged.

We Offer

• Opportunities across a range of grades and career stages.
• A genuine career progression pathway.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support work-life balance.
• RTPI membership and ongoing professional development support.
• Access to challenging and rewarding strategic planning projects.
• The Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• A supportive team culture with experienced and knowledgeable colleagues.
• The opportunity to help shape one of the largest Local Plans in South Yorkshire at a pivotal moment in its development.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.

At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

#InclusiveHiring #SecondChances