Principal Conservation Officer

East Staffordshire Borough Council; Burton upon Trent; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Car user payments

Payment of professional fees

Free car parking

Homeworking

Local government pension scheme

Continuing Professional Development

Job summary

East Staffordshire Borough Council is seeking a Principal Conservation Officer in Burton upon Trent to provide expert advice on historic buildings within planning contexts. You will handle applications, pre-application guidance, and enforcement matters, contributing to policy and urban design documents.

You will lead on local heritage asset listings and conservation area appraisal reviews, requiring a degree and IHBC membership, with a track record in planning environments.

Qualifications

• Must have experience in planning environment and advising on historic environment matters.
• Qualified with a relevant degree and a full member of IHBC.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice in Historic Buildings and the historic environment for planning applications, pre-application advice, and enforcement inquiries.
• Determine applications for Listed Building Consent.
• Contribute to urban design and spatial policy documents.
• Lead on creating a local list of non-designated heritage assets.
• Lead on a review of Conservation Area Appraisals.

Education

Relevant degree and IHBC membership

Job description

Principal Conservation Officer

Grade 9 - £42,123 to £45,529 per annum

East Staffordshire Borough Council serves a population of approximately 110,000 and is a mix of urban and rural areas. The principal town of Burton upon Trent is known for its brewing heritage and the smaller settlement of Uttoxeter is a market town. The rural areas are varied and characterised by small hamlets and villages, often historic in origin. In total there are 25 Conservation Areas, 59 Scheduled Monuments, over 900 Listed buildings, one registered Park and Garden and heritage assets ranging from the brewing industrial archaeology, traditional farmsteads to the historic castle of Tutbury.

The Borough Council has a small, but very effective Development Control Team which handles a wide variety of applications ranging from major residential and commercial proposals to householder, agricultural and other applications. Officers have the opportunity to experience the varied nature of applications which are reflective of the character of the Borough.

The Borough Council have also recently announced the commencement of a new Local Plan, offering an opportunity to support policy development and review of conservation area appraisals.

The main duties of this role are:

• To provide specialist advice in Historic Buildings and the wider historic environment to both internal and external customers which will be in respect of planning applications, pre-application advice and relevant enforcement enquiries.
• Determine applications for Listed Building Consent
• Contributing to the urban design and spatial policy documents
• Lead on the creation of a local list of non designated heritage assets
• Lead on a review of Conservation Area Appraisals

You must have previous experience of working in a planning environment in development control, particularly advising on historic environment matters. You will be qualified with a relevant degree and a full member of the IHBC.

All requests for flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments will be considered.

You should be organised, decisive, a good negotiator, efficient and a good team worker. Efficient written and oral communication skills are essential.

In return, we offer a generous package of benefits including:

• flexible working hours
• car user payments
• payment of your professional fees
• free car parking
• homeworking
• local government pension scheme
• and further Continuing Professional Development.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details of this role.

The Council is actively building diverse teams and welcomes applications from everyone, including people of different age, sex, gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. ESBC is a Disability Confident Leader.

Important Notes for Candidates: -

Visa Sponsorship

As a smaller local authority, we do not currently hold a sponsorship licence. Therefore, we are unable to issue Certificates of Sponsorship. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application as we are unable to support visa sponsorship

Personal Relationships

A candidate for any appointment with East Staffordshire Borough Council who know of any family or close personal relationship with any Member or Officer, must disclose that relationship when completing an application form for employment.

Closing Date Sunday 6 December 2026.

Attached documents

JD - PL0200 Principal Conservation Officer - 11.2026.docx