Principal Planning Officer - Complex Dev (Temp, Onsite)

Working for Essex; Essex; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Maldon District Council, Maldon, is seeking a Principal Planning Officer to join on a three-month temporary basis, with two site days per week. The role focuses on development management, policy development, and liaison with partners and committees.

The successful candidate will deliver specialist planning advice, manage contentious applications, and support junior staff while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of planning law and practice. Location is Maldon, Essex.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to give sound advice and guidance on planning cases.
• Experience with Town Planning applications across a broad range of complexities.
• Ability to enforce planning legislation when breaches occur.

Responsibilities

• Deliver customer-focused specialist advice in Development Management, keeping up to date with current and emerging legislation, best practice and policy to ensure continuous development and improvement in services.
• Manage complex and/or contentious planning applications, processes and compliance, regulations and legislation, acting as the single point of contact for customers on those cases and attending appeals hearings and public inquiries as appropriate.
• Support, guide and advise Graduate Planners and Technical Support colleagues, as necessary.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation, as well as Members and managing key relationships with partners including Essex County Council and Local Councils and other stakeholders
• Access and accurately update all relevant information systems, both customer and back office ensuring that the master customer record is updated and maintained through verification and validation, and in accordance with Data Protection principles
• Prepare and present reports to Area Planning Committees, District Planning Committee, and other internal and external meetings and present evidence/stand as witness at planning appeal hearings and public inquiries.
• Ensure own personal and professional development is maintained including keeping up to date with relevant law, policies, working practices and procedures.

Skills

Planning guidance

Stakeholder engagement

Development management

Job description

Maldon District Council, Maldon, is seeking a Principal Planning Officer to join on a three-month temporary basis, with two site days per week. The role focuses on development management, policy development, and liaison with partners and committees.

The successful candidate will deliver specialist planning advice, manage contentious applications, and support junior staff while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of planning law and practice. Location is Maldon, Essex.