Planning Policy and Projects Officer - 37 hours

Torbay Council; Torquay; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Torbay Council as a Planning Policy and Projects Officer to influence local planning, transport, and climate strategies. Help facilitate community growth and regeneration while addressing significant issues such as climate change through effective policy development. Ideal for someone with relevant experience and a degree in a related field, this role seeks candidates eager to make a positive impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in policy making.
• Experience with policy issues and project delivery.
• Chartered membership of a relevant institution or working towards it.

Responsibilities

• Develop an updated Local Plan and align strategies.
• Facilitate growth and regeneration in local areas.
• Respond to climate emergency through strategic planning.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Assertion skills

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in planning, transport, geography, economics or environment

Job description

Application Deadline: 6 July 2025

Department: Pride in Place

Location: Torbay Council

Compensation: £37,938 - £40,476 / year

Description

Job Description & Person Specification >

We are recruiting a Planning Policy and Projects Officer to our growing strategic planning, transport, and climate team. Join the Torbay story and help deliver our ambitions in Torbay.

Come and help the team develop an updated Local Plan within the context of national change, working with our community on neighbourhood planning, and aligning strategies and delivery of policy, particularly across housing, environment, climate and transport.

Working within our Strategy and Project Management Team, you will help facilitate growth and regeneration across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, responding to the Climate Emergency, working with our community, and making sure our policies are up to date and delivered.

We are looking for someone who strives to make a difference and wants to leave a positive legacy in a place where communities and businesses can thrive. You will support Torbay to grow, balancing the impacts of new development and maximising the benefits.

Torbay is an incredible place to live and work. Encompassing the towns of Torquay, Brixham and Paignton, sitting on the beautiful Tor Bay and next to the stunning landscape of Dartmoor National Park. Whilst we are a magnet for tourists, and known to many as the English Riviera, we also host globally significant technology businesses operating in photonic, marine industries, nanotechnology and medi-tech. But we can also balance out our work life with our stunning countryside and access to the sea, along 22 miles of coastline. We benefit from a mild climate which, coupled with the compelling natural environment, makes us a hugely attractive place to live and work.

If this sounds right for you, we’d love to hear from you. Come and be part of our #torbaystory.

If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser:
https://www.torbay.gov.uk/council/jobs/job-descriptions/planning-policy-and-projects-officer/

For an informal chat please contact Adam Luscombe on 07920247651 or [e-mail].

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 21st July 2025.

Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Skills

Essential:

• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Able to convey information accurately and clearly in a manner which is clearly understood.
• Assertion skills, i.e. able to determine and use behaviour which is appropriate to the situation and to exercise tact and diplomacy.
• Able to see tasks through to a successful conclusion, meeting challenging deadlines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
• Willingness to maintain and improve standards and performance through implementation of good practice and personal development.
  
  

This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Knowledge

Essential:

• Able to demonstrate knowledge of transport, environment and /or planning legislation, government advice and policy, circulars and guidance notes and awareness of general issues facing related professions.
• Knowledge of the planning, transport and/or environmental policy processes from cradle to grave.
• Understanding of the importance of economic regeneration.
• Understanding of the role of sustainability, energy efficiency, design, transport and waste and other important considerations.
  
  

Experience & Qualifications

Essential:

• Relevant and demonstrable experience in policy making.
• Demonstrable experience handling policy issues and project delivery issues.
• A Degree in planning, transport, geography, economics or environment at graduate or post graduate level.
• Chartered Member, or equivalent, of relevant professional institution / organisation, or working towards membership, or an intention to pursue a career in spatial strategy.