Senior Development Management Officer

Huntingdonshire District Council; Huntingdon; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexitime

Hybrid work model

Office in district

Job summary

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is seeking a Senior Development Management Officer to lead a varied caseload, influence significant proposals and support growth across the district. You'll work with developers, elected Members, communities and internal teams to deliver sustainable outcomes, prepare reports, attend hearings, and help shape the future of places we serve.

Applicants should hold an RTPI-accredited degree, have local authority planning experience, and be comfortable

Qualifications

• RTPI-accredited degree or equivalent professional development.
• Experience in Development Management within a local authority or equivalent.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload and maintain high service standards.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation and national policy.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied portfolio of planning applications from pre-application to determination.
• Provide expert professional advice and prepare reports and recommendations.
• Present proposals to Members when required and contribute to growth and place shaping.
• Collaborate with developers, residents, consultees and internal teams to find pragmatic solutions.
• Assist in appeals, policy development, and enforcement coordination.
• Contribute to wider planning agenda and respond to changing priorities.

Skills

Technical planning

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Communication

Education

RTPI-accredited degree

Tools

GIS

MS Office

Job description

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people.

Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making.

At HDC we want to employ staff who embody our icare values (Inspiring, Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Enterprising), all of which support our ultimate purpose of putting our customers first.

As local government continues to evolve, Huntingdonshire District Council is preparing for an exciting period of change through Local Government Reorganisation. While organisational structures may change in the coming years, our commitment to delivering excellent services for our communities remains unchanged.

Joining HDC now gives you a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact today whilst helping to shape the future of local government across our area. We are looking for people who are motivated by public service, embrace innovation, and want to play a part in building the organisation of tomorrow.

Job details

Shape places. Influence growth. Deliver the right development in the right locations.

This is an opportunity to take on a senior planning role where your expertise will have a visible impact on communities, investment, and the future growth of one of the country's most ambitious areas. As a Senior Development Management Officer, you'll work on a diverse and challenging caseload, influence significant development proposals, and play a key role in delivering high-quality, sustainable growth. Whether you're already operating at a senior level or you're an experienced Development Management Officer ready for the next step, this role offers the chance to broaden your experience, enhance your profile, and make a genuine difference.

Working within a supportive and forward-thinking planning service, you'll join a team that is committed to being positive, proactive, and solutions-focused. You'll have the opportunity to engage with developers, elected members, communities, and a wide range of stakeholders, helping to unlock investment while ensuring development contributes positively to the places we serve.

About the role

As a Senior Development Management Officer, you will take responsibility for a varied portfolio of planning applications and development proposals, providing expert professional advice from pre-application stage through to determination and beyond. You'll handle complex and high-profile cases, prepare reports and recommendations, present proposals to Members when required, and contribute to delivering the Council's vision for growth and place shaping.

This is a role that combines technical planning expertise with strong relationship management skills. You'll work closely with developers, agents, residents, elected Members, statutory consultees, and internal colleagues to find practical solutions and achieve positive planning outcomes. Your input will help shape development across the district while balancing commercial, environmental, and community interests.

The role also offers the opportunity to prepare evidence for appeals, contribute to the wider planning agenda, support policy development where appropriate, and work collaboratively with enforcement and other specialist teams. Every day brings new challenges, different stakeholders, and the chance to influence the future of the places we live and work in.

About you

We're looking for a planning professional who combines strong technical knowledge with a pragmatic and collaborative approach. You'll have experience working within Development Management in either a local authority or a comparable planning environment and be comfortable managing a varied caseload while maintaining excellent standards of customer service and decision-making.

You will have a sound understanding of planning legislation and national planning policy, together with the confidence to negotiate effectively, present clear recommendations, and build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Strong communication skills are essential, as is the ability to balance competing priorities in a busy and dynamic environment.

You may already be operating as a Senior Development Management Officer, or perhaps you're an ambitious and experienced case officer looking for the next step in your planning career. Either way, you'll be motivated by the opportunity to work on interesting and complex developments, influence decision-making, and help deliver sustainable growth.

You'll hold an RTPI-accredited degree, or a relevant degree supported by ongoing professional development, and you'll be passionate about using your planning expertise to create positive outcomes for communities, businesses, and the wider district.

Why Join Us?

Planning is at the heart of shaping successful places, and this is a role where your contribution will genuinely matter. You'll be trusted to make a difference, supported by experienced colleagues, and given the opportunity to develop your career while working on a broad range of development proposals that will leave a lasting legacy. If you're looking for a role where you can apply your expertise, expand your experience, and help shape the future of a growing district, we'd love to hear from you.

An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. HDC does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.

Closing date: 25 September 2026 9am.

We recognise that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. While we welcome the use of technology to help present your experience and achievements, we ask that the content of your application remains an accurate reflection of your own skills, knowledge and experience. In particular, we encourage candidates to demonstrate how they meet the criteria for the role by providing specific examples from their own experience. This helps us to better assess your suitability for the position.

For many of our roles, our hybrid work model enables employees to work remotely while allowing for in-office collaboration opportunities across the district, with an expectation of being in the office at least two days a week. However, please note that some positions may require a more consistent presence in the office due to the nature of the work.

Working for the council

As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity and are supportive employers, enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work-life balance.