Principal Policy Officer

Principal Policy Officer

£47,965 - £50,991 per annum, 37 Hours per week
Permanent

An exciting time to join West Oxfordshire District Council!

West Oxfordshire District Council is focused on enabling a fulfilling and meaningful quality of life for our residents with opportunities for all to flourish. We provide a range of important services including planning, housing, waste and recycling collections, leisure, community safety and environmental health. The Council has an ambitious Council Plan focused on a range of important priorities including putting residents first, climate and ecological action, affordable housing, and helping our economy to grow. We want to deliver excellent services whilst ensuring the financial sustainability of the Council. We also want to continue working in close partnership with our local communities and other important partners.

About the role…

We are looking for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Planning Policy Officer to join our dynamic planning team. In this role, you will contribute to the development and implementation of planning policies that shape our local communities and ensure sustainable growth.

You will work closely with key stakeholders, including local authorities, developers, and residents, to help guide planning decisions that align with policies.

• You will play a lead role in shaping planning policy, in particular the Local Plan, taking responsibility for key areas including the preparation of policies, supporting evidence and analysis and representing the Council in any independent examinations, including those of other local authorities.
• Lead on the commissioning of supporting technical evidence via external consultants and effectively manage any such commissions through to successful completion.
• Take responsibility for other policy related activities and outputs such as Area Action Plans and Supplementary Planning Documents as well as providing input into the development of Neighbourhood Plans.
• To advise Senior Officers and Members on the implications of changes to local, regional and national policy and to lead on the preparation of the Council’s response as appropriate.

You will need…

• Educated to Planning related degree or equivalent in a relevant profession with relevant on the job experience
• Full Membership/qualification for the RTPI
• Substantial experience at Senior or Principal Planner level
• Ability to facilitate and manage ongoing change
• Ability to resolve complex issues and complaints by negotiation
• Ability to remain calm and confident when dealing with challenging customers and environments or when presenting

Special Conditions…

• This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament.

What can we do for you…

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years’ service and 33 days following 10 years’ continuous service
• In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements

Terms and conditions apply.

To apply for this position please click on "apply now" within this page to complete an application form and supporting statement together with your CV. Please tell us about your skills, knowledge, qualifications, experience and how they meet the criteria listed above and in the job description/person specification. It’s important that we’re a good fit for each other, so let us know what’s important to you and why you want to work for West Oxfordshire District Council. Your CV will not be available to the hiring manager unless you are shortlisted for interview to assist with our non-biased screening process so please ensure you complete the application form in full.

Closing Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2025

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people and children. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies.