Principal Planning Officer

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Pershore; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization is seeking a Principal Planning Policy Officer to manage policy and projects across Wychavon and Malvern. This role involves supporting the Local Plan's examination, managing personnel, and ensuring alignment with strategic goals while offering an excellent package of benefits and training opportunities.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme with employer contributions

Generous annual leave entitlement

Committed training programme

Onsite nursery with staff discount

Discounted Gym and swim membership

Health and Wellbeing support

Cycle to Work scheme

Employee Discounts with various companies

Qualifications

• At least five years of post-qualification planning experience.
• Experience in project leadership and managing workloads.
• Strong research and analytical abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects and support the Plan through examination and adoption.
• Manage policy officers and oversee planning documentation.
• Champion the Council's Leadership Behaviour Framework.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Accuracy and attention to detail

Research and analytical skills

Job description

Principal Planning Policy Officer

37 hours per week, Permanent contract

£43,693 to £47,754 per annum

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a rich planning environment across two varied authorities, and build on the success of an existing jointly prepared plan which covers the three administrative areas.The emerging Local Plan is currently being taken through examination, looking to provide a rail led strategy with new settlements, including a garden village at Worcestershire Parkway. Working across the District Councils of Wychavon and Malvern, your work will include:

• Supporting work to take the Plan through examination and to adoption
• Supporting the Head of Service in delivering our strategic sites and new settlements
• Leading on projects such as five year housing land supply
• Line management of a number of policy officers
• Overseeing the preparation of Supplementary Planning Documents and Development Briefs
• Leading on main areas of evidence such as SHELAA and call for sites for an immediate plan review under the new system

We are seeking a candidate that will demonstrate commitment to delivering the Council's values of great customer service, openness and accountability, innovation and improvement and fairness and respect.

You will be responsible for championing and demonstrating the Council’s Leadership Behaviour Framework by inspiring, communicating, collaborating and empowering yourself and others and leading by example.

About you

The successful candidate will have:

• Substantial post-qualification planning experience of at least five years in a planning environment
• Experience of project leadership; budgets; managing own workload and workload of others
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to negotiate successful outcomes
• Accuracy and attention to detail alongside excellent research and analytical skills

What we can offer

Our staff are at the heart of what we do, and as a result we are always looking to recruit, develop and retain the very best talent we can find. So, as well as a rewarding career, we offer a range of attractive benefits, such as:

• Excellent pension scheme with employer contributions
• Generous annual leave entitlement with options to purchase additional annual leave
• Committed training programme and development opportunities
• Onsite nursery with 20% staff discount
• Discounted Gym and swim membership
• Health and Wellbeing support and a Free Employee Assistance scheme including access to counselling services
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee Discounts with a range of companies including EE and the Kaarp discount scheme.

We are an employer that values face to face communication, collaboration and connection, therefore all our roles have an office-based requirement with some agile working as part of the role.

To discuss the post or for further information, please call Isabel Roberts on 01386 565350.

Closing date: Sunday 27 July 2025

Interview date: Monday 11 August 2025

Please note if we experience a high intake of applications, we may close the role and interview for the position sooner than advertised.

Attached documents
Job Description
Employee Benefits