Planning Officer / Senior Planning Officer

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a Planning Officer or Senior Planning Officer to contribute to the Development Management team. This role offers opportunities for both entry-level and experienced planners to engage with local communities and help shape sustainable growth. Responsibilities include managing planning decisions, advising on local planning policies, and collaborating with stakeholders to implement spatial planning strategies.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme

Wellbeing Support Programme

Qualifications

• Experience with development management processes.
• Ability to provide pre-application advice.
• Excellent customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement development management and planning decision-making.
• Enable timely planning decisions considering community needs.
• Provide expert advice on planning matters in committee settings.

Skills

Development Management

Planning Decision-Making

Community Engagement

Education

Degree in Planning or related field

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Job Description

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils - Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• £30,559 - £42,708 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Full Time, 37 hours per week
• Permanent

Full time, part time and job share opportunities will be considered.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a Planning Officer or Senior Planning Officer (Career Grade Role) to join our team in Development Management. To be successful, you will share our values, commitment, and motivation to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities.

• Planning Officer
  Grade 4 - £30,559 - £35,235 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Senior Planning Officer
  Grade 5 - £36,124 - £42,708* per annum (pro rata for part time)
  *Plus potential for Market Forces Supplement.

About the role

Whether an entry-level planner, or a more experienced Planning Officer seeking a fresh challenge, with opportunities for continued development and progression, you will be motivated to help us positively shape our environment through fostering sustainable growth and the delivery of the right homes and jobs, in the right places.

A team player with initiative, you will be solutions-focused with an appetite for effective collaboration with our key stakeholders in implementing our spatial vision for the Districts as we deliver our Strategic Joint Local Plan policies and develop our detailed topics, allocations and supplementary guidance to bring our vision for development into reality.

You will be highly attuned to the need to work with our communities as they bring forward neighbourhood plans and look to implement them and deliver on community expectations for growth.

This is a Career Grade Role, therefore offering fantastic opportunities to develop your career within planning.

About you

You will need to demonstrate that you can:

• implement development management and planning decision-making, reflecting the nature of the districts and how they function, in accordance with the councils' strategies and policies for securing sustainable development
• pro-actively and proportionately enable the making of clear and timely planning decisions, considering the needs of the community, and holding an awareness of the need to uphold the reputation of both councils at all times through delivering excellent customer service
• offer sound pre-application advice for householder and minor development, coordinating responses with technical consultees and referencing national and local planning policies in addition to the Local Validation List
• provide expert advice on all planning and associated matters in committee and appeal settings and represent both councils at a parish and town council level on the implementation of spatial planning decision-making and development management.

You will need to have access to a vehicle, and a full, valid UK driving licence.

About us

Working together across our councils and with our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, we provide excellent services to our 190,000 residents across Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

We are proud of the role we play in creating the environment, economy, and communities for our districts. We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work. With picturesque market towns, 60 conservation areas and with two National Landscapes within our districts, it is little wonder that we are consistently within the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Benefits

• Great opportunities for learning and development.
• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 26 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support Programme.
• Employee Assist Programme.
• Health Care Options.

For more information, please visit our Employee Benefits page (suffolkjobsdirect,org).

Our ways of working

Work is what we do, not where we go! We are committed to working in a more Hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business needs permitting). This has worked well for us and is something we will be continuing with.

We are committed to supporting equality and diversity, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils provide opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible service for our residents.

For more information

Please read theCareer Graded Job Description (pdf)and Person Specificationfor a Grade 4 Planning Officer (pdf) and a Grade 5 Senior Planning Officer (pdf)before applying for this job opportunity.

If you wish to find out more and have an informal discussion about the role, please contact Julie Havard by either calling 01473 296342 or emailing:[e-mail]

Closing date: 5 pm, 14 July 2025.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

When applying, please ensure:

• that you complete the application form as fully as possible with your employment and educational history as shortlisting will be based upon the application form and supporting statement only.
• your statement indicates how you meet each of the criteria in the 'Person Profile' section of the Job Description/Person Specification.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About the Team

How to apply

Step 1 - read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (JD and PS).

Step 2 - complete the Supporting Statement template

Step 3 - complete the online application and upload your statement.

Your statement needs to indicate how you meet the criteria in the 'Person specification ' section of the (JD and PS)

Your statement should:

• Be no more than 2 sides of A4
• use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted)
• be uploaded on your online application, as without this, your interest will not be progressed.