Principal Planning Officer – Maldon District Council

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

Job summary

Maldon District Council is seeking a Principal Planning Officer on a temporary 3-month contract in Maldon. The role requires experience with major planning applications, managing a varied workload, and handling S106 agreements and PPAs.

The position is hybrid, with 2 days in the office weekly and occasional evening committee meetings. Educated to degree level in Planning or related subject, you will work with Essex County Council and Local Councils, present at committees, and manage data across

Qualifications

• Degree-level planning qualification or equivalent.
• Experience with major planning applications and complex casework.
• Ability to prepare reports and present to committees.
• Knowledge of S106 and PPAs is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage a broad range of complex and major planning applications.
• Coordinate with partners and stakeholders; attend site visits and hearings as required.
• Prepare and present reports to planning committees and meet decision deadlines.
• Ensure accurate data handling and updates across information systems.

Skills

Major planning applications

Stakeholder management

Data protection

Report presentation

Committee liaison

Education

Degree in Planning or related

Tools

Planning information systems

Data management

Job description

Principal Planning Officer - Maldon District Council

Maldon District Council

Temporary,Full Time

£60.00 ph (umbrella)

Location:Maldon

Closing Date: 12th November 2026

Maldon District is a unique place to both work and live; a combination of a coastal location and easy access to London presents the best of both worlds to those seeking a real work life balance. The district offers a wide range of properties from period country cottages through to brand new executive homes.

The Opportunity:

Maldon District Council are looking to appoint a Principal Planning Officer on an initial 3-month temporary contract basis. This role requires a planning professional who has previous experience of working on major planning applications and who can manage a varied workload. This role is being offered on a hybrid working basis with an expectation of 2 days a week in the office as well as attending site visits and occasional evening committee meetings.

• Manage a broad range of more complex cases and pre-applications with particular emphasis on larger developments including negotiating S106 agreements, Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) and providing resilience and flexibility within the service.

• 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.

• 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

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to degree level in Planning or a relevant subject
• Thorough working knowledge of practices, methodologies, and legislation within Planning
• Experienced in complex casework; able to give advice and guidance on a broad range of cases and topics
• Proven ability to enforce legislation where appropriate
• Eligibility for Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent

Maldon District Council are proud to be a disability confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interview allveteransandcare leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.