Senior Planning Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Generous annual leave entitlement

RTPI membership and professional dev.

Access to challenging planning projets

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Barnsley Council is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to lead the development of Barnsley’s Local Plan and help drive planning policy across the borough. You will coordinate evidence, policy documents and consultation materials, working with partners and communities to deliver strategic growth.

The role involves presenting evidence at examinations, mentoring colleagues, and shaping plans for housing, infrastructure and sustainable places within a forward‑looking local authority.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of planning policy, spatial planning or related work.
• Ability to lead complex policy projects and mentor colleagues.
• Strong understanding of the planning system and Local Plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation, progression, implementation and monitoring of Barnsley's Local Plan.
• Develop IT solutions to support Local Plan preparation, GIS and MS365.
• Develop planning policies addressing local priorities and reforms.
• Prepare evidence studies, consultation material, reports and policy documents.
• Collaborate with officers, councillors, communities, developers and authorities.
• Shape strategies for sustainable growth, housing, regeneration and economic development.
• Represent the Council at examinations, hearings and public meetings.

Skills

Planning policy

GIS

MS365

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Geographical Information Systems

Microsoft 365

Job description

Barnsley Council have an exciting opportunity for 2 Senior Planning Officers to join the team based in Barnsley. You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis. In return, you will receive a competitive salary of £48,738 - £51,928 per annum.

Help Shape the Future of Barnsley

Barnsley is a borough with ambition, confidence and a clear vision for the future. Across the borough, we're delivering transformational regeneration projects, planning for new homes and communities, supporting investment and infrastructure, and creating places where people and businesses can thrive. As we embark on preparing our next Local Plan under a changing national planning system, there has never been a more exciting time to join Barnsley's Planning Service. We're looking for talented planning professionals to join our welcoming, ambitious and highly respected Planning Policy team. Whether you're developing your career, looking for your next challenge, or ready to take on a senior leadership role in plan-making, we offer the opportunity to work on projects that will have a lasting impact on the future of the borough. This is your chance to help shape how Barnsley grows over the coming decades, influencing strategic decisions on housing, employment, infrastructure, climate resilience, town centres and place-making, while contributing to a vision that will benefit communities for generations to come.

What You'll Be Doing

• A lead role in the preparation, progression, implementation and monitoring of Barnsley's new Local Plan.
• Supporting the development of IT solutions including Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and MS365 packages to help drive forward preparation of the Local Plan and the wider digital planning agenda.
• Developing planning policies that respond to local priorities and national planning reform.
• Lead on preparing evidence studies, consultation material, reports and policy documents.
• Working collaboratively with officers, councillors, communities, developers, infrastructure providers, neighbouring authorities, statutory consultees and consultants.
• Helping to shape strategies that support sustainable growth, regeneration, housing delivery and economic development.
• Contributing to the creation of attractive, healthy and resilient places across the borough.
• A lead role in presenting evidence and representing the Council at examinations, hearings, inquiries and public meetings as required.
• Supporting the delivery of key corporate priorities and long-term growth ambitions.

No two days are the same. You'll work on a diverse and rewarding range of projects that help shape the physical, social and economic future of Barnsley.

About You

We're looking for enthusiastic and motivated planning professionals who want to make a real difference.

You may already be working in planning policy, development management, consultancy or a related field and be looking to broaden your experience within a forward-thinking local authority.

We're interested in people who can demonstrate:

• Extensive experience of planning policy, spatial planning or related work.
• Experience of managing complex policy projects, leading work programmes, representing organisations at examinations or inquiries, and mentoring colleagues is particularly valuable.
• Extensive understanding of the planning system and the role of Local Plans in shaping sustainable growth.
• Strong analytical, report-writing and research skills.
• The ability to communicate confidently with a wide range of audiences.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for communities and places.

Most importantly, we're looking for people who share our passion for creating great places and who want to play a meaningful role in Barnsley's future.

Why Join Barnsley?

At Barnsley, planning is at the heart of delivering our ambitions. You'll join a supportive, collaborative and forward-thinking service where your contribution is valued and your development is encouraged.

We offer:

• Opportunities across a range of grades and career stages.
• A genuine career progression pathway.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support work-life balance.
• RTPI membership and ongoing professional development support.
• Access to challenging and rewarding strategic planning projects.
• The Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• A supportive team culture with experienced and knowledgeable colleagues.
• The opportunity to help shape one of the largest Local Plans in South Yorkshire at a pivotal moment in its development.

Whether you are starting the next stage of your planning career or looking to take on a more strategic role, Barnsley offers the opportunity to develop professionally whilst making a real and lasting impact.

Interested?

Closing date for application:

27/11/2026

If you're excited by the opportunity to shape places, influence long-term growth and help deliver the next chapter of Barnsley's story, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us as our Senior Planning Officer and play your part in creating a Barnsley that future generations will be proud to call home.