Principal Strategic Planning Officer

Osborne Richardson; Letchworth; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A Local Authority in Hertfordshire is seeking a Principal Strategic Planning Officer to manage the District’s Local Plan updates. You will oversee site allocations, support project management with junior officers, and represent the Council at Public Inquiries. Ideal candidates will have substantial Local Authority experience and preferably hold RTPI membership. This is a 6-month contract with a competitive rate.

Qualifications

• Versatile, experienced Planning Policy Officer with Local Authority experience.
• Track record of influencing planning outcomes through negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Report to the Strategic Planning Manager on plan preparation.
• Act as technical expert at Public Inquiries.
• Oversee project management of site allocations work.

Skills

Influencing planning outcomes

Liaison and negotiation

Project management

Education

RTPI membership

Tools

Placemaker

Job description

Overview

Our client is a Local Authority in Hertfordshire who are looking for a Principal Strategic Planning Officer to take on a role focused on the review, project management and update of the District’s Local Plan.

Responsibilities

• You will report to the Strategic Planning Manager and will be assigned specific tasks in relation to the preparation of chapters and sections of the Plan and/or focussed reviews on specified areas of policy.
• The role will require attendance at Public Inquiries where you will act as technical expert witness to defend Council decisions and provide detailed responses.
• As a Principal Officer, your main workstream will be to oversee and project managing the site allocations work – with support from junior officers using a software package called Placemaker.
• You will be working on the Local Plan: site allocations, policy drafting, preparing inhouse evidence base documents and managing consultants.

Qualifications and experience

• We are looking for a versatile, experienced Planning Policy Officer who can demonstrate a range of Local Authority experience delivering Local Plan updates. You will need to have a track record of positively influencing planning outcomes through liaison and negotiation of complex matters.
• Ideally RTPI membership for a role at this grade.

Contract details

• The contract will run for 6 months with a strong likelihood of extension.
• Office requirements are 2 days per week, Monday and Wednesday.
• The rate will be at least £55/hr (umbrella).