Principal Planning Officer

Maidstone Borough Council; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Free parking

Cycle to work

Season ticket loan

LGPS

Life assurance

Staff benefits discounts

Job summary

Maidstone Borough Council invites applications for a Principal Planning Officer to help drive major planning, development and investment projects within a dynamic environment.

The role leverages experience with local plans, policy development, and team collaboration, with a flexible hybrid working policy and a market supplement of £5,000 per annum.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience dealing with complex planning issues and policy guidance.
• Ability to evaluate large amounts of data and formulate strategic policy.

Skills

Policy development

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Degree in Town Planning

RTPI membership

Job description

Maidstone Borough Council is a progressive and pro‑active local authority with strong ambitions for Kent’s County Town and surrounding countryside. This is an exciting opportunity for a planner wishing to grow their strategic planning experience.

Maidstone offers a unique opportunity to work on major planning, development and investment projects. We work on a varied canvas – bringing forward significant, high quality growth with associated infrastructure, whilst enhancing our significant local landscapes, heritage and identity.

To help plan pro‑actively, Maidstone Borough’s Local Plan Review was adopted in March 2024 and we are now commencing production of a new Local Plan, as well as bringing forward Article 4 Directions, new strategies for Heritage and Maidstone Town Centre, and assisting with several Neighbourhood Plans. The role will therefore provide excellent experience for an enthusiastic team player and self‑motivated individual within a dynamic environment.

We will accept applications from those seeking a full or part time role for this permanent post and offer a flexible working environment.

About You:

To be considered for the Principal Planning Officer role, your education and training will include:

• Degree in Town Planning or Post Graduate qualification in Town Planning
• Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Consideration will be given to other relevant professional accreditation holders e.g. RICS/RIBA subject to relevant experience.
• Full Driving Licence

Your experience will include:

• Extensive experience of dealing with complex and sensitive planning issues and preparation of policies and guidance
• Ability to assess and evaluate large quantities of often complex and sometimes conflicting information and data and then find creative solutions and formulate strategic policy and proposals

Additionally, you will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

About us:

Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.

We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.

At Maidstone Borough Council we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.

Our Offer:

In addition to salary, market supplement of £5,000 pa.

A range of benefits including:

• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities – with some office working for the purposes of specific meetings or team working
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
• Free parking
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role

Selection Process:

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect a job specific interview presentation, followed by an interview.

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is considered to require political sensitivity and the councils’ Politically Restricted Posts Policy applies. If you would like further information on this, please contact us at [e-mail].

Please specify on your application form whether you wish to apply on a full time or part time basis.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Mark Egerton, Strategic Planning Manager on 01622 602062 or Karen Britton, Head of Planning and Economic Development on 01622 602008