Senior Planning Officer

Austin Fraser; Thrapston; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to lead various projects within their Planning Policy function. This role involves managing key evidence documents, engaging with the community, and supporting the development of planning policies. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management and policy development, along with excellent research and analytical skills. This is a temporary role offering flexibility with remote work options, providing an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful planning initiatives in North Northamptonshire.

Qualifications

• Experience in project management and policy development is essential.
• Strong research and analytical skills required for evidence-based policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects and manage evidence documents to support policy development.
• Engage with communities and prepare for public participation exercises.

Skills

Project Management

Policy Development

Research Skills

Community Engagement

Analytical Skills

Education

Degree in Planning or related field

Tools

Geographical Information System (GIS)

Job description

Job Title: Senior Planning Officer

Location: WFH 4 days per week, with a minimum of one day a week in the Thrapston office

Rate of Pay: Negotiable

Working Hours: Full Time - 37 hours

Type: Temporary Role - 13 Weeks

Opus People Solutions are working with North Northamptonshire Council to recruit for a Senior Planning Officer.

Purpose of the Job

This role works across the Planning Policy function area. The postholder will fulfil allocated tasks and duties to meet the operational demands of the Planning Policy Service.

Policy Responsibilities

Effectively lead on projects, workstreams and effectively project manage key evidence documents to inform and support policy development. Support the delivery of Council's planning policy function, ensuring guidance is up to date by planning and participating in projects and work streams including researching and writing policy, consultation and engagement exercises and assisting in taking those projects and work streams through the milestones to external examination where necessary. Assisting in implementing and delivering policies and guidance in practice, preparing appeal statements, appearing at hearings and answering enquiries from applicants, their agents and other customers in relation to planning matters, advising other departments as required.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Lead or assist on a number of projects, workstreams and effectively project manage key evidence documents to inform and support in developing policy, and other planning and design guidance, based upon appropriate evidence, involving stakeholders and the public in policy development and taking draft policy through formal adoption processes, including preparing for Key Decisions and Examinations in Public as necessary.
2. Lead or assist in the undertaking research to provide a sound and up to date evidence base for policy development for both North Northamptonshire as a whole and for specified places as a key element of place shaping.
3. Lead or assist in projects to deliver local plan objectives, in relation to a topic or a spatial area.
4. Maintaining a broad knowledge of the policy issues across North Northamptonshire and developing specialist knowledge in certain aspects according to business needs, preparing briefings for senior officers, managers and Councillors.
5. Providing guidance and support for communities considering or preparing neighbourhood plans.
6. To lead or assist in the facilitation of the preparation of public participation exercises and other forms of community engagement, including representing the Council at exhibitions and meetings.
7. Maintain databases and monitoring systems. Analysing evidence and drawing out trends, patterns and characteristics for both the unitary area as a whole and specified places in need of policy development.
8. Providing policy observations on more complex applications for planning permission, advice to other Council departments, and working on corporate projects as required, including the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
9. Preparing statements and other materials for appeals and prosecutions, and to appear as the Council's representative at inquiries, hearings and court.
10. Assist on work on Special Projects which may from time to time arise.
11. To write commissioning briefs and support the procurement of professional consultants to advise the Council on technical matters essential to support plan making.
12. To assist in developing the application of Information Technology in the planning policy process, including the Council's Geographical Information System.

For more information or to process your application for this role, please apply online now.