Senior Planning Officer

North Herts Council; Letchworth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Letchworth is seeking a Senior Planning Policy Officer to oversee the Local Plan review and update. The role involves collaboration with Councillors and residents to create sustainable development policies. The ideal candidate will have significant planning experience and membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Join us to make a positive impact in North Hertfordshire's development while enjoying comprehensive benefits, including flexible working options and a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Occupational sick pay

Free car parking

Gym membership discounts

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in a planning environment.
• Experience in public sector, private practice, or both.
• Demonstrable experience in developing evidence-based policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review and update of the Local Plan.
• Cooperate with Councillors and residents for vision delivery.
• Support junior members of the team and lead key work areas.

Skills

Post-qualification experience in a professional planning environment

Full membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute

Proficient in GIS

Experience with planning application software

Creative and enthusiastic attitude

Education

Relevant qualification in planning or related field

Tools

Specialist IT platforms

Job description

About Us

North Hertfordshire is a large rural district with approximately 125,000 residents with four historic towns, Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and Letchworth Garden City. The Council has a clear vision: We put people first and deliver sustainable services, to enable a brighter future together.

Why work with us?

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in our recruitment practices and in our employment policies. We want our employees to feel safe to express themselves and we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of talents. We are dedicated to promoting a healthy work/life balance, valuing our employees, and enabling them to make a difference to the local community.

Our benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (19.5% employer contribution)
• Generous annual leave, including Christmas close down period
• Occupational sick pay
• Free car parking
• Discounts, including 50% off NHC gym membership
• Flexible working options including flexi scheme and home-working

The Role

We are looking for an experienced, senior planning policy officer to play a key role bringing forward the review and update of our Local Plan. You will experience a variety of projects across a range of planning themes and topics within a friendly, multidisciplinary team that works closely across the whole planning service and with wider Council teams.

The successful candidate will cooperate with Councillors, partners and residents to help create and deliver an ambitious, sustainable and low-carbon vision for future growth and development in North Hertfordshire. This will balance our future needs with the preservation and enhancement of the District’s distinct identity and characteristics that include National Landscapes, historic villages, market towns and the world’s first Garden City.

We would particularly like to encourage applications from female leaders and individuals from an ethnic minority background.

Experience you will bring

You will have significant post-qualification experience in a professional planning environment with full membership (or eligibility for full membership) of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Your experience may have been gained in the public sector, private practice or a combination of the two. You are creative and enthusiastic about making a positive difference for the residents of North Hertfordshire.

You will have worked across a wide range of relevant projects, both working independently under your own initiative and as part of wider teams and strategies. You have demonstrable experience of developing robust, evidence-based policies and advising on their purpose and implementation to professional colleagues, prospective applicants and members of the public.

You will be expected to lead key areas of work with minimal supervision as well as support more junior members of the team.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience at Local Plan examinations or planning appeals as well as working on neighbourhood plans or supplementary planning documents. You may have developed a truly detailed understanding of certain areas of policy such as housing or town centres where we can focus your expertise (or, equally, assist you in broadening your experience to other areas).

You will be proficient in the use of specialist IT platforms such as GIS, public engagement and / or planning application software.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the Council's online application form at www.north-herts.gov.uk under the Jobs and Careers page using our secure web recruitment tool. Please note that we do not accept CV applications, either on their own or accompanying application forms. Therefore, please ensure that all relevant information is provided on the application form.

At North Herts Council we are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, and we guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum requirements for the job.

If you would like an informal chat about the post, you can contact Debbie Coates, Principal Strategic Planning Officer on 01462 474353 or Rachael Rooney, Interim Strategic Planning Manager on 01462 474847.

Please note, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Closing Date: Noon 6th January 2026

Interviews: Weeks Commencing 12 January or 19 January 2026