Principal Engineer - Development Liaison

Dorset Council; Dorchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/flexible working

Development and training opportunities

Disability Confident Employer

Job summary

Dorset Council in Dorchester is seeking a Highway planning professional to provide Transport Development Management advice to planning authorities and assess Local Plan allocations. You will contribute to planning policy discussions and engage with Planning Committee and appeals.

The role requires excellent communication, collaboration across teams, and a detailed understanding of highway design standards. A degree in civil engineering is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience providing Transport Development Management advice to planning authorities.
• Experience assessing Local Plan allocation sites during Reg 18/Reg 19 consultations.
• Experience speaking at Planning Committee and representing the Council at Appeal is welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Provide Transport Development Management guidance to planning authorities and developers.
• Assess Local Plan allocations and contribute to planning policy evaluations.
• Represent the Council in public inquiries and Planning Committee discussions as required.

Skills

Planning advice

Public speaking

Client communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Job description

About the role

Maintaining a great county for people to live, work and visit, depends on the infrastructure and environments that we improve and create. Join us and you could play a major role in regenerating and developing key parts of this beautiful rural setting, home of the famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

This post presents an excellent opportunity to develop and expand your existing knowledge, skills and experience within a bust and varied highway engineering environment.

You will be joining the Development Team within Highways, a successful, supportive, and collaborative team with a wealth of experience.

The Highways Service is forward thinking, continuously thinking innovatively about how we offer our services as well as identifying opportunities to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners.

We prioritise support, learning, development, and wellbeing across our workforce. We also offer hybrid and flexible working that supports a healthy work-life balance.

We are committed to supporting your continual professional development and have a comprehensive development programme whatever the stage of your career.

You will have a wealth of experience providing Transport Development Management advice to planning authorities, for large complex applications. You will have experience of assessing Local Plan allocation sites as part of Reg 18 and Reg 19 consultations. Experience of speaking at Planning Committee and representing the Council at Appeal are welcomed.

Experience of working within a highway or planning related discipline, with an excellent ability to follow procedures and evaluate problems. You will be able to work in a team environment, with good communication skills and customer service.

Ideally you will be educated to at least degree standard in civil engineering or a related subject and have current knowledge of design and construction standards, procedures and techniques.

Membership of a relevant professional body is desirable and will demonstrate your commitment to continuous professional development and that you have gained significant post qualification experience within this field.

Further Information

If you would like an informal conversation please contact Alison Curtis, [e-mail]

Travel Requirement

This position has a travel requirement. This means that there is a requirement to have access to a vehicle or have suitable access to other forms of transport such as public transport (where appropriate), car sharing or use of pool cars.

Other Information

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You Will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.