Senior Planning Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Hastings; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave 27 days + bank holidays

Flexitime scheme

Home working

Pension scheme

Job summary

Hastings Borough Council is seeking a qualified or experienced Senior Planning Officer to join the Development Management Team, handling planning applications, pre-applications and appeals. You will negotiate solutions, support growth, and protect the environment and historic character of Hastings.

The role offers flexible/ hybrid working, with potential home working and a generous pension. Applicants with at least 2 years’ planning experience are encouraged to apply, with training supported.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience dealing with planning applications.
• Experience assessing and determining planning applications.
• Ability to read and assess plans and write concise reports.

Responsibilities

• Assess and determine planning applications, pre-applications and appeals.
• Negotiate and resolve planning issues to support growth and regeneration.
• Prepare reports and present findings to Planning Committee.

Skills

Planning experience

Communication skills

Project management

Negotiation

Job description

Position: Senior Planning Officer

Career Grade: 5 to 4 SCP 24 to 33

Salary: £35,412 to £44,075 per annum plus 10% market supplement (£3,541.20 to £4,405.50 per annum)

Additional Staff allowance of £3,336 (to cover parking & travel costs).

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full Time (37 Hours)

The role comes with:

• A generous leave package starting from 27 days + bank holidays.
• Flexible working hours are available through the Council’s flexitime scheme, subject to the requirements of the role and service.
• Agile working – you can work from home to suit your personal circumstances
• An excellent Pension Scheme

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified or experienced Senior Planning Officer to join our Development Management Team, dealing with planning applications, pre-applications and appeals.

With excellent communication skills, you’ll take responsibility for effective negotiation and resolution, supporting growth and regeneration that reflects the Council’s wider positive objectives and policies of promoting high-quality and innovative development, while protecting the environment and conserving the historic character of the Borough.

This is a great opportunity to take the next step in advancing your career.

We’d love it if you have relevant qualifications, but if you don’t you can still apply as we would be happy to support your training needs. The important thing is that you have at least 2 years’ experience dealing with planning applications and a passion for making the town the best it can be.

Full details of the role can be found in the attached job description. We are keen to support your training and personal development and offer flexible working, including home working.

Who are we?

With world-class coast and countryside, a thriving artists’ quarter in the Old Town, outstanding architecture, independent shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs, not to mention 1,000 years of history, Hastings is a popular place to live and visit. Low house prices, good schools, beautiful parks, an attractive environment, outstanding community spirit and a determination to continue to evolve make a move to Hastings a very positive investment in your future.

Hastings is also an ambitious town with significant opportunities ahead. Over recent years, the town has seen major investment in regeneration, including the restoration of its historic pier, improvements to transport infrastructure and investment through the Towns Fund. More recently, Hastings has been selected to receive up to £20m through the Government’s Pride in Place programme, a 10-year programme designed to support regeneration, improve community services and help local people shape the future of their neighbourhoods.

The Pride in Place programme will support investment in areas such as community facilities, public spaces, youth activities, heritage, skills, employment and the local environment. It is being shaped through the Hastings Neighbourhood Board and local community priorities, with funding opportunities available for projects that make a real difference to neighbourhoods across the borough.

As a Senior Planning Officer, you would be joining the Council at an important time for the town, helping to support high-quality development, regeneration and place-making while protecting the historic character, natural environment and unique identity that make Hastings such a special place.

Who are you?

The ideal person for this role will have experience in assessing and determining planning applications. You may already be assessing more complex planning applications, but if you haven’t this is an opportunity for you.

As a Senior Planning Officer at Hastings you would deal with larger household applications, large minor applications and occasionally small major applications. You will also be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of Development Management. You’ll have the ability to read and assess plans, write accurate and concise reports, as well as meet tight deadlines.

You will be able to project manage your work to meet Council and Government targets and you’ll have good knowledge of planning legislation and policy at local, regional, and national levels.

You’ll have excellent communication and customer‑care skills and be comfortable presenting at meetings including Planning Committee. You will have the ability to work flexibly, as part of a busy and high‑performing team. You may have relevant qualifications but if you don’t, it’s not a problem because we can provide you with opportunities to undertake relevant training, should you wish to do so, to help you develop in your role and further progress your career.

Market supplement (Plussage)

A market supplement equivalent to 10% of basic salary is currently payable in addition to the Grade 5-4 salary. The supplement reflects current recruitment and market conditions and will be reviewed every 12 months in accordance with the Council’s Market Pay Policy

Following a review, the supplement may be reduced or withdrawn where the available market evidence no longer supports its continued payment.

Full details of the qualification and experience required for the role can be found in the attached job description.

If you have any questions you can call Eleanor Evans on [phone] or email ([e-mail]). We have a welcoming and friendly team so if you think this role could be for you we would love to hear from you.

Further information on this vacancy

• Hastings Borough Council Behaviours Framework
• Senior Planning Officer - Job Description / Person Specification
• Market Pay Policy