Senior Landscape Officer

East Suffolk Council; Melton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Landscape Officer to join their ambitious Specialist Services team. This role involves providing expert landscape advice, assessing visual impacts, and contributing to significant planning projects that shape the landscape. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Landscape Architecture, possess strong negotiation skills, and be proactive in their approach to placemaking. Opportunities include career development and generous leave entitlements.

Benefits

Opportunities for training and career development

Generous leave entitlement

Local government pension scheme

Flexibility to work remotely

Discounts on various products and services

Free car parking at the office

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Landscape Architecture or related discipline.
• Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute or working towards it.
• Significant experience assessing landscape and visual impacts in planning.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist landscape advice on planning applications.
• Assess Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments.
• Negotiate with applicants to secure high-quality landscape outcomes.
• Represent the Council at Planning Committees and public inquiries.

Skills

Technical expertise in landscape architecture

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Proactive problem-solving

Presentation skills

Education

Degree in Landscape Architecture or related discipline

Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI)

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Landscape Officer to join our ambitious and multidisciplinary Specialist Services team, working alongside experts in design, heritage, arboriculture, ecology and rights of way. You'll play a key role in ensuring that development across the district responds to landscape character, local distinctiveness, and environmental priorities. This is an exciting time to join us, with major place‑shaping projects underway, including new Garden Neighbourhoods, coastal regeneration projects, strategic infrastructure schemes (NSIPs) and district‑wide design coding work. What you’ll be doing

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist landscape advice on planning applications, pre‑applications and strategic growth sites.
• Assess Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA), Landscape and Visual Appraisals, and other supporting information.
• Contribute to masterplans, Supplementary Planning Documents, Local Plans and Design Codes, embedding landscape principles and green/blue infrastructure from the outset.
• Negotiate with applicants and consultants to secure high‑quality landscape outcomes and design enhancements.
• Represent the Council at Planning Committees, Design Review Panels, Public Inquiries and Hearings, acting as expert witness where required.
• Undertake site visits and condition compliance checks to monitor the delivery of approved schemes.
• Prepare clear, concise reports and briefings for senior officers, Members and committees.
• Lead or support community and stakeholder engagement on landscape and placemaking matters.
• This is not just a casework role; you’ll influence projects and policies that will safeguard East Suffolk’s landscape for future generations.

You'll bring a strong blend of technical expertise, creativity and collaboration, including:

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Landscape Architecture or related discipline.
• Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) – or working towards chartership.
• Significant experience assessing landscape and visual impacts within the planning process.
• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills with the ability to influence positive outcomes.
• Confidence presenting at committees and public meetings.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused approach with a commitment to high‑quality placemaking.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for site visits across the district, with flexibility to occasionally work outside normal hours.

If you don't meet every single requirement but feel you have the passion and potential to thrive in the role, we'd still love to hear from you.

East Suffolk is one of the largest and most diverse districts in the UK, from expansive coastlines and riverside estuaries to rural farmland, market towns and historic settlements. Our landscapes are a defining part of East Suffolk’s identity and play a vital role in climate resilience, biodiversity, placemaking, and the wellbeing of our communities.

To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWedQksWt0.

Why work for us? East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access.

The district is close to the large urban centres of both Norwich and Ipswich, with rail services providing access to the Council’s offices by train. We might be “on the edge” but we can be accessed easily from a wide area and offer flexible and remote working in a dynamic team.

Benefits

• A multidisciplinary environment – work alongside landscape architects, ecologists, designers and heritage specialists.
• Opportunities to develop your career, supported by training, professional memberships and CPD.
• Involvement in high‑profile design and planning projects with real impact on local communities.
• You can read more about how we work and our collaborative approach in our Specialist Services Prospectus.
• Great opportunities for training and development.
• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years of service, plus bank holidays).
• Local government pension scheme.
• Free car parking (for when you are working in the office).
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.