Senior Planning Officer

Dorset Council UK; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension

Flexible working

Home working opportunities

Learning and development

Job summary

Dorset Council UK is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to join the fast track teams serving the Southern and Western planning committee area. You will shape local place making and drive high-quality design on complex minor applications and some small-scale major applications.

You will benefit from generous employee terms, flexible and family-friendly working, and significant home working opportunities, with a focus on development and mentoring of junior staff.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in town planning (or related subject).
• Post-qualification experience in a planning role, public or private sector.
• Chartered RTPI membership or eligibility desirable.

Responsibilities

• Shape local place making and drive high-quality design on minor applications and small-scale major applications.
• Negotiate planning obligations and lead pre-application discussions.
• Present applications to committee and represent the Council at hearings/public inquiries.
• Mentor planning officers in the fast track teams.
• Sign off applications under the scheme of delegation.

Skills

Town planning

Postgraduate qualification

RTPI membership desirable

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related subject

Postgraduate qualification in planning

Chartered RTPI membership desirable

Job description

Looking for a new and exciting challenge? Would you like to develop your planning career in a beautiful and iconic area which not only has thousands of listed buildings, national landscape designations and England’s only natural World Heritage Site - the Jurassic Coast, but is also a place of growth and innovation?

What You Can Expect To Be Doing

As a Senior Planning Officer you would be one of 8 officers in “fast track” teams in the Southern and Western planning committee area. You would have the opportunity to shape local place making and drive high-quality design through the consideration of complex minor applications and some small-scale major applications.

Role

No two days are ever the same in the “fast track” team with a diverse range of applications which may include minor residential and commercial, agriculture, tourism and renewable energy developments. The senior planning officer role provides extensive opportunities for negotiation, including:

• Any necessary planning obligations
• Shaping development through pre-application enquiries
• Presenting applications to committee
• Representing the Council at hearings and public inquiries

There will be the opportunity to undertake case reviews, signing off applications under the council’s scheme of delegation and to mentor planning officers in the “fast track” teams.

About You

You will:

• Hold a degree-level qualification in town planning (or related subject) and it is normally expected a postgraduate qualification in planning
• Post-qualification experience in a planning role, in either the public or private sector
• Chartered membership of the RTPI or eligibility to apply is desirable

You will have experience of and be confident in dealing with complex minor applications and experience of small-scale majors is desirable. You should be confident at the presentation of those applications at planning committee. Experience of informal hearings and public inquiries is desirable. Being able to demonstrate experience of mentoring and signing off applications would also be desirable.

Protect it. Shape it. Enjoy it. Be part of Dorset!

Employee benefits are generous and include a local government pension, flexible and family friendly working, the opportunity for significant home working and continual learning and development opportunities. If you are looking for a new and exciting challenge a Planning career in Dorset comes with everything you need.