Principal Planning Officer

Malvern Hills District Council; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in the UK is seeking a Principal Planning Policy Officer to support planning across multiple districts. This permanent position involves leading projects, managing policy officers, and preparing necessary documentation. Ideal candidates will have substantial planning experience, excellent communication skills, and a strong commitment to the council's values. In return, the council offers attractive benefits including a generous pension scheme, annual leave, and development opportunities.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Training and development opportunities

Onsite nursery discount

Discounted gym membership

Health and Wellbeing support

Cycle to Work scheme

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Substantial post-qualification planning experience of at least five years.
• Experience of managing own workload and the workload of others.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support the Plan through examination and adoption.
• Lead projects related to housing land supply.
• Oversee preparation of Planning Documents and Development Briefs.

Skills

Planning environment experience

Project leadership

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Research and analytical skills

Job description

Overview

Principal Planning Policy Officer

37 hours per week, Permanent contract

£45,091 - £49,282 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; and
• 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 Councils 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; and
• 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 2 November 2025

Interview date: Tuesday 11 November 2025

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