Planning Policy Officer

West Northamptonshire Council; Towcester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional council in Towcester is seeking a Planning Policy Officer to ensure policies are up-to-date and effective. This role involves preparing planning documents, conducting research, and working with diverse stakeholders to support local development. Ideal candidates will have excellent communication skills and a background in policy development, with the ability to work flexibly, including remote options.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Flexible working options

Employee support services

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills for delivering customer service.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Experience in research and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support preparation and review of the Local Plan and related documents.
• Conduct research and gather statistics for planning policies.
• Liaise with colleagues, developers, and the public on land use policies.
• Monitor development activities and conduct surveys.

Skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Collaborative work

Attention to detail

Education

Background in policy development or related fields

Job description

Our Planning Policy team sets the future direction for growth and sustainable development in West Northants. The team produces robust evidence base and is creating the first single Local Plan for West Northamptonshire.

As our Planning Policy Officer, you'll play a key part in creating and keeping our policy documents up to date. These documents serve as guides and benchmarks for future developments in the area, and you'll also be responsible for conducting research, monitoring, and gathering statistics to bolster our Planning Service and policy framework.

Our benefits
You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council.What will you be doing?
You'll support the preparation and review of the single Local Plan for West Northamptonshire, Neighbourhood Plans, and Supplementary Planning Documents, along with offering valuable insights on planning policy and development matters. You will stay informed about UK Government policies, strategic planning, and sub-regional planning matters. Collaboration is key as you'll liaise with colleagues, authorities, developers, and the public regarding land use policies. Monitoring development activities and conducting surveys will be part of your routine, as well as contributing to process improvements and fostering effective communication. This role has been identified as a part-flexible worker type, meaning you will be able to work from other locations and, when not in the office, work remotely for up to 3 days a week (including from home).

About you

Our ideal person is someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys researching, and has a keen eye for detail. With your excellent communication skills, you will be relied on to deliver outstanding customer service in every interaction with all internal and external customers, including Councillors. As part of our team, you will make a proactive and positive contribution to the effective delivery of the Planning Service, including working flexibly and positively to achieve the council's objectives. If you have a background in policy development or related fields, we encourage you to apply.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people—those who thrive with ambition, bring new ideas, demand better ways of working, care about every detail, and embrace challenges. Our culture offers new experiences and opportunities, empowering you in your career and connecting you with like-minded colleagues. Our vision is to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit, and thrive. We stand by this vision and work diligently every day to realize it. Our corporate values, THRIVE—Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate, and Empower—underpin all we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council.

We are committed to diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion, woven into everything we do to enable all colleagues to develop and reach their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner. Watch our film to learn what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including access to the job description in another format or language, please email [e-mail] for assistance.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.