Principal Development Management Officer

Huntingdonshire District Council; Huntingdon; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Huntingdonshire is seeking a Planning Officer to manage major planning applications. The role requires strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills, and an understanding of UK planning legislation. Ideal candidates will have an RTPI-accredited degree and be proactive team players. Apply before 10 October 2025.

Qualifications

• Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) or eligible for it.
• Ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and manage deadlines.
• Strong understanding of UK planning legislation and policy.

Responsibilities

• Acting as case officer for major applications.
• Liaising with various stakeholders and organising meetings.
• Preparing reports and making recommendations.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation skills

Critical assessment

Education

RTPI-accredited degree in Town Planning or related discipline

Job description

Overview

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people. Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making. At HDC we want to employ staff who embody our icare values (Inspiring, Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Enterprising), all of which support our ultimate purpose of putting our customers first.

Job details

The Strategic Development Management team handles the largest, most complex and sometimes contentious planning applications and appeals that the council receives. Schemes include residential, commercial, mixed-use, renewable energy and other projects, many of which are supported by Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs).

You will be acting as case officer for a range of major applications, working with colleagues across technical specialisms and with external consultees, including community representatives, to understand, communicate, negotiate and make recommendations on the applications within your caseload. This interesting and varied work includes committee presentations as well as assembling and presenting the Council’s position at pre-application and, potentially, appeal stages. You will be adept at identifying, assessing and balancing material considerations to reach an informed and balanced recommendation on each application.

About the role

We are looking for a proactive and flexible team player with an attention to detail and a can-do attitude, to work within a project-focused environment. The major planning applications and other PPA-supported schemes submitted in Huntingdonshire are varied. You will be the main point of contact for applicants, interested parties, internal stakeholders, external consultees and adjoining councils. The role is wide-ranging and can include:

• Liaising with a diverse range of people and organisations, at all levels of seniority
• Organising and attending meetings with applicants, taking robust notes of discussions
• Analysing large volumes of information against guidance and legislation
• Attending examination events or site inspections
• Reviewing consultation responses and advising on an appropriate and robust approach for the council to adopt on a range of material considerations
• Assisting members of the public to understand and engage with an application
• Preparing reports, including recommendations to members
• Drafting letters and responding to emails
• Ensuring the milestones in a range of PPAs are delivered
• Deputising for the Team Leader (Strategic Team)
• Signing off on the recommendations of other Officers, including complex applications

About you

Should you have an RTPI-accredited degree in Town Planning or a related discipline, and either be a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) or be eligible for this.

• Strong project management skills are essential, and experience of leading complex planning projects from inception to decision is desirable.
• You will need to demonstrate your ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams, manage competing deadlines, and ensure delivery of high-quality outputs. You will have an excellent understanding of UK planning legislation and policy, including the Planning Act 2008, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, and Localism Act.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills are essential, including working with local communities, developers, legal advisors, and statutory consultees.
• Understanding sometimes competing interests and positions is essential, as is an ability to balance differing priorities and clearly explain (in both written and verbal form) how those priorities interact when assessing the planning balance. Demonstrable expertise in critical assessment, as well as constructive solution-finding, is essential.
• Experience of taking part in public inquiry or the formal examination process is desirable though not essential, as is experience with Planning Performance Agreements, using project tracking tools and digital planning systems. You will be accomplished in presenting applications to committee members and answering their questions, to support robust and properly informed committee decisions.
• You will be competent in reviewing and analysing recommendations made by colleagues on their caseload applications, signing off both delegated decisions and committee recommendations.
• You should have a full, clean driving licence.

An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. Huntingdonshire District Council does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.

Apply

To apply for this position, please complete the application form.

The closing date is 9am 10 October 2025 and interviews will be held the week commencing 17 October 2025. However, this is a rolling campaign and we will review applications on an ongoing basis and will close the advert early should we receive suitable applications, so please don’t delay in applying!