Principal Planning Officer – Maldon District Council

Essex County Council; Maldon; 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. The role focuses on managing major planning applications and complex casework, with a requirement to attend site visits and some evening meetings.

The position offers hybrid working with around two days per week in the office and close collaboration with Essex County Council and local partners. Applicants should have a planning degree and RTPI eligibility.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in Planning or a relevant subject.
• Thorough knowledge of planning practices, methodologies and legislation.
• Experience in complex casework with large developments.
• Ability to enforce planning legislation where appropriate.
• Eligible for RTPI membership or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Manage a broad range of complex cases and pre-applications, including larger developments and S106, PPAs.
• Lead on complex or contentious planning applications and attend hearings.
• Collaborate with colleagues, Members, partners and stakeholders.
• Maintain information systems and master customer records with DP principles.
• Prepare and present reports to planning committees and act as witness at appeals.

Skills

Planning degree

RTPI membership

Complex casework

Planning legislation

Enforcement experience

Education

Degree in Planning or relevant subject

Job description

Principal Planning Officer - Maldon District Council

About The Role

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 all veterans and care 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.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [e-mail]