Senior Planning Officer (2 Posts)

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

RTPI membership

Pension scheme

Career progression

Training & development

Job summary

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to shape policy, lead Local Plan work and drive digital planning initiatives. The post offers hybrid working and a permanent contract, with opportunities to collaborate across officers, councillors, communities and developers.

You will develop planning policies, prepare evidence, and represent the Council at examinations and public meetings, contributing to sustainable growth and regeneration in Barnsley.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of planning policy, spatial planning or related work.
• Experience managing complex policy projects, leading work programmes, representing organisations at examinations or inquiries, and mentoring colleagues.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation, progression, implementation and monitoring of Barnsley's new Local Plan.
• Support development of IT solutions including GIS and MS365 to drive Local Plan preparation and digital planning.
• Develop planning policies that respond to local priorities and national reform.
• Lead on preparing evidence studies, consultation material, reports and policy documents.
• Work with officers, councillors, communities, developers, and external partners.
• Help shape strategies supporting sustainable growth, housing delivery and economic development.
• Represent the Council at examinations, hearings, inquiries and public meetings as required.

Skills

Planning policy

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Report writing

Communication

Tools

GIS

MS365

Job description

Position reference: 50039306, 50147513

Directorate:Place| Service:Planning, Policy & Building Control

Working Arrangements : Monday to Friday, Hybrid Working

Contract type: Permanent

We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch .

This post requires a Basic Criminal Record Check

Prospective employees will be required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (6 months or more in the past 3 years) of time living abroad.

When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.

We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.

There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent Planning, Policy & Building Control team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

• We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
• Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
• If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
• We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
• Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post

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

As a Senior Planning Officer you'll play a key role in preparing, reviewing and delivering planning policy across the borough, including:

• 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

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 and play your part in creating a Barnsley that future generations will be proud to call home.

CV's are not accepted for this role.

At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

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