Principal Planning Officer

South Gloucestershire Council; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Cardiff seeks a Lead Officer for strategic developments. You will project manage applications, provide technical expertise, and assist in mentoring junior team members. The role requires a relevant degree and substantial planning experience. You will also handle public consultations and deputise for the team manager. Generous benefits include annual leave and staff discounts, fostering a supportive workplace culture. Contribute to shaping communities and delivering essential services.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Employee wellbeing support

Staff discounts on travel and leisure activities

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in planning and delivering activity to meet statutory requirements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience working with applicants through a Planning Performance Agreement.

Responsibilities

• Project manage applications for large strategic development sites.
• Provide technical expertise in major sites planning.
• Assist and mentor junior team members.
• Deputise for team manager and handle concerns and complaints.
• Travel on council business as required.

Skills

Project management

Negotiation

Public consultation

Planning Performance Agreement

Education

Degree in town and country planning

Full membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute

Job description

What you will be doing

• As the lead officer for at least one large strategic development site, you will project manage all applications for that site and will be working within a multi-disciplinary team of planners, urban design officers, landscape architects, ecologists and public opens space officers.
• You will provide technical expertise in the delivery of the council's major sites planning and other corporate policy objectives through the determination of delegated consultation and formulating reports and recommendations for formal determination in line with the council's procedures.
• It will be your responsibility to assist, enable and helping junior members of the team to grow and develop their planning careers, through regular meetings and in team training.
• As required, you will deputise for the Strategic Major Sites Team Manager, handling concerns, complaints and FOI requests in accordance with council procedures and time scales.
• On a regular basis, you will travel on council business, so you must either have a current driving licence and provide a car or have access to appropriate means of travel.
• We require you to hold a degree relevant to town and country planning, as well as a full membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute or other relevant professional body.
• It is essential that you have substantial experience of planning and delivering activity in relevant services to meet statutory requirements within the service areas.
• You must have a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant legislation and regulatory framework for the provision of the Strategic Major Sites service.
• Given the elements of the role, you will have experience of negotiation and organising effective consultation and participation with representatives of the public, community groups, the business community and other interested parties.
• It is essential you have experience of working with applicants through a Planning Performance Agreement.
• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
• Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We're providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.
• We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.