Principal Planning Policy Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom is seeking a Principal Planning Policy Officer to lead planning policy initiatives. The successful candidate will manage strategic site allocations, work with external consultants, and engage with the community to deliver effective planning outcomes. Candidates should possess strong project management and communication skills, as well as a degree in a relevant field. The role offers flexibility, competitive benefits, and the opportunity to influence community development.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Wellbeing support programs

Private health care options

Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme

Paid volunteering days

Flexible working arrangements

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ability to analyse, interpret, and present evidence succinctly.
• Knowledge of Local Government practice and procedures.
• Ability to manage external consultants and understand the plan-making process.

Responsibilities

• Lead on a variety of planning policy matters.
• Manage the development of major and strategic site allocations.
• Engage with the community and support neighbourhood development plans.

Skills

Spatial planning policy experience

Effective communication

Project management

Organizational skills

IT skills with Microsoft products

Education

Degree in an appropriate discipline

Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (desirable)

Job description

Principal Planning Policy Officer

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

Salary: £45,091 - £52,413 per annum (plus Market Supplement) * (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: 5pm, 6 January 2026

Reference: 21253

This role is open to full time, part time, and job share applications, all of which will be assessed equally.

Join our team

We are looking for a Principal Planning Policy Officer to join our Strategic Planning Team and lead on a variety of planning policy matters.

If you share our values and motivation to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

Do you want to shape our communities and places in Babergh and Mid Suffolk for the better?

An exciting role has become available in the team that delivers the Local Plan for our districts. The councils adopted the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Part 1 Development Plan Document in November 2023 and are currently undertaking a Joint Local Plan Review under the new plan-making system, which will plan ahead to 2045.

The Joint Local Plan Review will seek to address the challenge of increasing housing and employment needs together with the delivery of the associated infrastructure, whilst preserving what is unique about the districts.

We are looking for a collaborative and strategic-minded individual to play a key role in the formulation of planning policy, including:

• major and strategic site allocation
• managing external consultants on the development of evidence base and appraisal
• provide expert planning policy advice
• mentor members of the team.

There will be the need to work collaboratively across the two councils in supporting the development of strategies including infrastructure, as well as working closely with councillors, neighbouring local authorities, Suffolk County Council, and other infrastructure providers.

Engagement with the community and supporting the preparation of neighbourhood development plans are key aspects of the role.

The post will support the delivery of the councils’ corporate objectives.

About you

We are seeking a motivated planner who has appropriate knowledge and experience of the spatial planning policy system with the ability to analyse, interpret and present evidence and information succinctly to a variety of audiences.

You will:

• be educated to degree level in an appropriate discipline, with significant spatial planning policy experience, and membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute is desirable
• have a thorough knowledge of Local Government practice and procedures
• be able to procure and manage external consultants and have a good understanding of the plan-making process
• have effective communication skills and an ability to develop strong working relationships, together with project management and organisational skills
• have good IT skills and extensive experience with modern Microsoft products is expected.

Now is an exciting time to join us, as we look to update and develop the software we use with innovative packages to present information in different ways.

About us

At Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils we are passionate about building communities that people want to live, work, visit and invest in.

We serve around 200,000 residents across our two districts and are well known for our collaboration and partnership working across public, private and voluntary sectors.

We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work, with:

• 60 conservation areas
• two National Landscapes
• many picturesque market towns.

It is no surprise we are ranked among the top 50 places to live in the UK (United Kingdom).

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• generous leave entitlement (26 days a year, rising to 31 days after 5 years)
• competitive Local Government Pension Scheme
• wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance Programs
• private Health Care Options
• electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• paid volunteering days
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements (Business needs permitting)
• great learning and development opportunities.

For more information, visit our Employee Benefits page and view ‘The best things about working for Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils’ to find out what our employees say about working for us.

Our ways of working

Work is what we do, not where we go!

We believe work is what we do, not just where we go.

We work in a hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business need permitting). Our hybrid working arrangements support flexibility and collaboration, helping our teams to thrive.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

To find out more:

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Robert Hobbs by either calling 01449 724812 or emailing: [e-mail] or Caileigh Gorzelak by either calling 01449 724595 or emailing: [e-mail].

How to apply:

To apply and for further details, please click on the apply button

Closing date: 5pm, 6 January 2026.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.