Senior Planning Officer: Development & Appeals Lead (Temp)

Essex County Council; Maldon; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Maldon District Council is seeking a Senior Planning Officer for a temporary three-month assignment located in Maldon. The role requires two days per week on-site attendance and offers a £45.00 per hour umbrella rate.

The post involves delivering high-quality planning advice, managing complex applications, and supporting junior staff while coordinating with Essex County Council and local partners. The position closes 1 October 2026.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to give sound advice on a broad range of planning cases and issues.
• Experience of Town Planning applications across varying complexity and contentiousness.
• Ability to enforce legislation where a breach of planning control is suspected.

Responsibilities

• Deliver customer-focused specialist advice and services in Development Management, staying up to date with current legislation and policy.
• Manage complex and/or contentious planning applications, processes and compliance, acting as single point of contact for customers and attending appeals hearings as needed.
• Support, guide and advise Graduate Planners and Technical Support colleagues as necessary.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the organisation, Members, Essex County Council and Local Councils and other stakeholders.
• Update all relevant information systems accurately and maintain master customer records in line with Data Protection principles.
• Prepare and present reports to Area Planning Committees and other meetings, and present evidence at planning appeal hearings or inquiries.
• Maintain personal and professional development, keeping up to date with laws, policies, and procedures.

Skills

Sound advice

Planning applications

Enforce legislation

Job description

Maldon District Council is seeking a Senior Planning Officer for a temporary three-month assignment located in Maldon. The role requires two days per week on-site attendance and offers a £45.00 per hour umbrella rate.

The post involves delivering high-quality planning advice, managing complex applications, and supporting junior staff while coordinating with Essex County Council and local partners. The position closes 1 October 2026.