Senior Planner

Adecco; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Planner in London with a focus on high-quality planning service delivery. The role involves managing complex planning applications, supervising junior staff, and ensuring compliance with planning policies. Candidates should have a degree in planning, proven experience in local government policy, and strong communication skills. The position offers hybrid working options and is a 3-month contract with potential extensions.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in assessing planning applications to Committee level.
• Excellent communication with stakeholders in the planning process.
• Experience in local government policy work including development plans.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality decision-making in planning services.
• Coach and supervise junior planning officers.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on planning applications.

Skills

Document management

Communication

Planning legislation knowledge

Negotiation skills

IT systems knowledge

Education

Degree in planning or relevant qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Planning database system

Job description

Job Title : Senior Planner

Location : Wandsworth SW18 2PU (Hybrid working available)

Hourly rate £30 PAYE / £39 UMB Per Hour

Contract Length : 3 month contract (possibility of extension)

Working Pattern : Full Time, Monday - Friday, 36 hours

ASAP Start

Job purpose

• To deliver high quality, robust and transparent decision making within tight time frames to ensure that the Planning Service is recognised as delivering an excellent planning service for all our customers. To independently manage a caseload of a number of complex and / or high profile planning applications, pre-application advice requests and correspondence to agreed and identifiable time scales and delivering a well reasoned officer recommendation which delivers a successful planning outcome.
• To coach and supervise junior planning officers to help them acquire the skills and knowledge so they are able to be self-reliant in dealing with technical and people issues

Duties

• To work independently to and take personal responsibility for the full range of development management case work including negotiation of planning performance agreements, pre-application advice, the processing of complex and high profile planning applications ensuring that these are effectively and efficiently carried out to identifiable deadlines in a manner that is consistent with planning policy and is successful in meeting corporate targets and objectives.
• To work independently to assess, negotiate and set out clear and robust recommendations in an accurate, well written officer report based on relevant planning policies and other material considerations.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and to take a proactive approach to relevant changes in legislation and updating junior staff on those changes.
• Proactively identify issues and propose improvements and creative solutions within the context of current and future service requirements in order to continually deliver high quality, customer focused planning services to managers and our full range of customers including developments in information technology systems, customer service and other processes and procedures.
• Ensure that the electronic copy of the planning application, pre-application advice and correspondence is the master copy and that all electronic and paper copies of your own case work and that of the supervised staff is up-to-date before any decision is made.
• Implement self-contained projects or components of larger projects in order to deliver organisational objectives as well as enabling agreed changes in planning practice and processes to take place.
• Provide advice and guidance in response to planning best practice, procedure or policy within a legal / organisational policy framework.
• Lead on the preparation of evidence in respect of appeals including presenting evidence at Public Inquiries, Hearings and written representation taking a project management role.
• Initiate and participate in matters relating to compliance and enforcement matters and conflict resolution to ensure high quality innovative outcomes that reflect Council-wide objectives and policies.

Knowledge, skills & experience

• Proven track record in assessing planning applications to Committee level in preparing thorough complete reports.
• Highly effective document management and accountability in ensuring recommendations are lawful
• Excellent communication with applicants and all stakeholders in the planning process.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Planning legislation, policy guidance and circulars, practice and case law and the ability to apply that knowledge in negotiating and delivering highly complex and high risk planning applications within agreed timeframes in order to deliver a responsive, high quality service at speed Development Management Service.
• Experience in local government policy work including preparation of development plan documents or equivalents.
• Clear understanding of IT systems generally including Microsoft Office, measuring software and planning database system and document management systems.
• Ability to negotiate and deliver highly complex and controversial planning applications within agreed timeframes in order to deliver a responsive, high quality service at speed Development Management Service.
• A degree in planning or other appropriate professional qualification and a member of the RTPI or eligible for full membership.

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.