Principal Planner

5 Star Recruitment; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government agency in Kingston upon Thames is seeking a dedicated individual to support the operational needs of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure team. The role involves working on planning applications, facilitating community participation, and ensuring excellent customer service across services. The ideal candidate should thrive in a collaborative environment, demonstrating core competencies in self-management and interpersonal relationships. This position offers a chance to contribute to meaningful community outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Support operational needs and deliver outcomes of the Strategic Planning team.
• Work on planning applications, appeals, enforcement, and area-based strategies.
• Deliver excellent customer service for local communities.

Job description

Role purpose

The Council is focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for its communities. To do this the Council needs employees who thrive in an agile and networked organisation and who can support continuous improvement within a constructive organisational culture. You will work with relevant officers both within the service, and across the Council and our partners, on a range of professional activities and projects, in line with service priorities and the Councils Corporate Plan.

The purpose of this role is to support the operational needs and delivery outcomes of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure team, which includes the functions of : Development Management, Planning Enforcement and Spatial Planning. The role can include all aspects of development management and spatial planning work including : planning applications; appeals; enforcement; area-based planning strategies; planning briefs; project work; the preparation and monitoring of the Local Development Framework, supplementary planning guidance and other policies; and helping the public take part in planning and support initiatives such as co-design.

Key activities

Customer

Working closely with colleagues in the Contact Centre and other services, deliver excellent levels of customer services for the benefits of local communities and the reputation of the Council. Support and facilitate senior officers as they seek to respond to complaints from members of the public, residents groups, the Local Government Ombudsman and Councillors arising from the post holders casework.

Performance

• Works with manager to agree performance objectives
• Plans and prioritises own work to meet deadlines
• Contributes ideas to support the development and then fulfillment of team service plan

Partners

• Builds strong internal and external working partnerships to enable the service to be delivered in an outcome‑focused and efficient way.
• Supports Kingstons commitment to community cohesion and valuing diversity and social inclusion.

Core Competencies

• Self management and employing self-awareness, self confidence, self-control, self-knowledge, personal reflection, resilience and determination to work positively with customers, stakeholders, Councillors and colleagues. Demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Core Competency Framework.
• [For Principal Planner role] As a manager within the service the postholder will also have to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Management Competency Framework.