Principal Development Management Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Northampton is seeking a Principal Development Management Officer to manage significant planning applications and mentor junior staff. This role includes preparing Committee reports and ensuring excellent customer service within the planning functions. Candidates should hold a relevant degree and possess extensive knowledge of the English planning system. The council offers competitive salary, hybrid working options, and various benefits, aiming for a productive working environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Generous leave entitlement

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Extended experience with a full range of planning applications.
• Knowledge of the National Planning Policy Framework.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage significant planning applications and conduct site inspections.
• Prepare Committee reports and present at Planning Committee.
• Mentor junior colleagues in a team-based environment.

Skills

Knowledge of English planning system

Excellent customer service

Experience with planning applications

Education

Relevant degree for planning

Job description

Principal Development Management Officer

Salary £53460 – £56805

About the role

North Northamptonshire Council is a product of local government reorganisation which took place across Northamptonshire in 2021. We have brought together the four former district and borough and county Local Planning Authority planning functions and working through a transformation programme to create a single high-performing planning service for North Northamptonshire.

North Northamptonshire is a high-growth area offering an exciting opportunity for professional development. We are working on preparing a new Local Plan to provide a spatial vision for the whole area. We are delivering sustainable urban extensions in differing phases of development, a wealth of large commercial and industrial development proposals and everything in between. This is a role that can offer a breadth of opportunities to utilise your knowledge and experience, and develop your career, in a job that is both challenging and rewarding.

Interviews are anticipated to take place on the 21st/ 22nd January 2026

What will you be doing?

In this dynamic role you will play a vital part in supporting the effective delivery of North Northamptonshire’s planning functions. You will be at the forefront of providing customer service, engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including members of the public, applicants and councillors, ensuring every interaction reflects our commitment to the future of our area.

You will be joining us at an exciting time as we implement our new team structure, come together in new headquarter offices, and roll-out new planning software and ways of working. Working as a Principal Development Management Officer you will be at the forefront of supporting initiatives be part of our continuing transformation and improvement journey, influencing the evolution of our service.

You will be responsible for a case load of some of the more significant planning applications, including the carrying out of site inspections, research, consultations and assessment of the case. Making appropriate recommendations in accordance with the policies of the Council. As required, this will include the preparation of Committee reports on planning and other applications, and the presentation of these reports at the Planning Committee.

You will be part of a team structure that is designed to ensure that you can both benefit from the support and guidance of colleagues to help you achieve your potential, but also utilise your own knowledge to mentor junior colleagues. For example, through our ‘Development Team’ approach we will offer opportunities for all officers to be involved in bespoke project teams brought together to handle large scale and high‑profile developments.

About you

You will hold a relevant degree and qualifications or have the appropriate experience that would allow you to be eligible for chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent).

You will be able to demonstrate extended experience of being responsible for a full range of planning applications, including large scale/complex proposals.

Extensive knowledge of the English planning system, including legislation, the National Planning Policy Framework and best practice advice.

You are able to deliver excellent customer service under pressure.

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution; it provides life cover and ill‑health protection
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Customer‑focused

Respectful

Efficient

Supportive

Trustworthy

Disability Confident Employer

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment. For further information please click here

Armed Forces Community

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)

To apply please click on the ‘apply button’