Planning Policy Officer Career Pathway

Suffolk County Council; Bury St Edmunds; Remote; GBP 31,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Life assurance

Flexible working

Agile working

Employee benefits package

Cycle to work

Health & wellbeing

Discounts at Abbeycroft Leisure

Job summary

West Suffolk Council is seeking a Planning Policy Officer to support the preparation of the Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, and related masterplans. The role offers progression opportunities toward Senior Planning Officer and welcomes RTPI-qualified applicants.

You will work with Ecology, Conservation, Landscape, Urban Design and Planning Policy, contributing to shaping growth and safeguarding the built and natural environment.

Qualifications

• Up to date knowledge of planning legislation.
• Excellent communication skills for effective teamwork, client and stakeholder engagement, both written and spoken.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Proficient in using IT and Microsoft.
• Ability to manage time, workload and tight deadlines while remaining, focused, calm and professional.
• Willingness to learn and share knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation of the new Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, supplementary plans and masterplans.
• Lead on related projects and evidence to support policy development.
• Develop knowledge from planning degrees and engage with RTPI membership discussions for progression.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external bodies on policy framework.
• Attend and present papers to Working Groups, Cabinet and Portfolio Holders as required.

Skills

Planning legislation

Communication skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

IT proficiency

Time management

Continuous learning

Education

Degree in planning or related subject

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

• West Suffolk Council
• Address:West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU
• Salary:£30,515 - £47,665 per annum, plus excellent employee benefits package
• Hours:37 hours per week
• Contract:Permanent
• Reference:0009

West Suffolk Council are seeking a highly self-motivated Planning Policy Officer to join our successful strategic planning service.

Planning is about making the best use of land and making places where people want to live, work and play.

Through preparation and implementation of land use planning policies and guidance, our work unlocks growth, contributing significantly towards our corporate priorities, and strives to protect and improve the built and natural environment.

We are a council with an excellent track record of delivering Local Plans with a recently adopted Local Plan and have commenced work on the preparation of a new Local Plan in the context of the Government’s recent reforms to plan-making.

The team includes Ecology, Conservation, Landscape, Urban Design and Planning Policy Officers. The professional expertise in the wider service and Council makes it a great place to work with opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge.

About the role

This is a key role in the team with a wide range of responsibilities and the opportunity to make a real difference to local communities and the future of the area. You will be responsible for assisting the preparation of the new Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, supplementary plans and masterplans including leading on related projects and evidence.

This is a career grade post that commences at Planning Policy Officer and provides the opportunity to progress to Senior Planning Officer.

Experienced planning applicants eligible for RTPI membership and already working at a senior level and looking to progress their career in planning policy are also welcomed.

If starting as a career grade Planning Officer at £30,515 you will need the ability to develop your knowledge from a degree in planning or a related subject but do not require planning work experience to apply. You will, however, be someone with strong office experience of working with a range of people and customers and able to work with conflicting demands.

If you have planning experience, but not qualified, we will welcome your application and support you to become qualified with a starting salary of £34,237.

Experienced planning applicants eligible for RTPI membership and looking to progress their career in planning policy will have a starting salary dependant on experience.

Part of the role also involves liaising with outside bodies/stakeholders/interested individuals/expert bodies and statutory consultees in the preparation of the policy framework and attending and presenting papers to Working Groups, Cabinet, and Portfolio Holders, as required.

What you will need

• Up to date knowledge of planning legislation.
• Qualified to degree level in relevant subject.
• Excellent communication skills for effective teamwork, client and stakeholder engagement, both written and spoken.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Proficient in using IT and Microsoft.
• Ability to manage time, workload and tight deadlines while remaining, focused, calm and professional.
• Willingness to learn and share knowledge.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for full details of this exciting opportunity.

Why work for us? Our benefits include:

• Holiday entitlement of 25 days, increasing to 29 days after 5 years (pro rata if part time) plus bank holidays (with an option to buy up to 10 extra days each year subject to approval).
• Generous pension scheme - contribute between 5.5% and 6.8% (depending on your salary) and the council will contribute 16.4%.
• Life assurance – a payment of three times your annual salary.
• Flexible working options to enable work/life balance.
• Agile working - ability to work in the office and from home.
• Access to a unique employee benefits package which includes discounts and cashback on supermarkets, high street shops, holidays, mobile phones, electrical goods, savings and loan schemes and many other products and services.
• Salary sacrifice benefits including Cycle to Work scheme, Tusker Leased Car Scheme and SmartTech (buy the latest tech products interest free and repay through your monthly salary).
• Rail and bus staff discounts.
• A range of Health and Wellbeing initiatives including an employee assistance programme.
• Discounted membership at Abbeycroft Leisure centres.
• A culture of learning inspiring staff to focus on continuous learning.
• Modern office accommodation.

For more information

Please read the Job Description (pdf), Person Specification (pdf) and Core Values (pdf).

For an informal discussion and further information please contact Boyd Nicholas, Principal Planning Officer for Strategic Planning, by either calling 01638 719248 or emailing [e-mail]

Closing date: 11.55 pm, 22 November 2026.

Interview date: 4 December 2026.

West Suffolk Council has been rated in the top 10 district councils for climate action (Climate Scorecards 2023) and as a member of UK100 has demonstrated its commitment to a rapid transition to Net Zero with Clean Air in our communities. The council has declared a climate and biodiversity emergency and is committed to working towards net zero emissions by 2039.