Senior Planning Policy Officer

West Northamptonshire Council; Towcester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading council in the UK as a planning professional, where you will shape the future of communities through expert planning policy guidance. This role involves engaging with stakeholders and ensuring high-quality planning services. With a focus on customer service and strategic objectives, you will contribute to the effective delivery of planning functions, making a real difference in the community.

Qualifications

• Proactive and dedicated professional needed for Planning Service team.
• Experience in planning policy guidance and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of planning functions and customer inquiries.
• Assist in developing Local and Neighbourhood Plans.
• Provide research and advice on planning frameworks.

Skills

Customer Service

Stakeholder Engagement

Planning Policy

Job description

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About the role

Are you passionate about shaping the future of our towns and communities?

We are seeking a proactive and dedicated professional to join our Planning Service team and help deliver high-quality planning services that make a real difference.

We need you to take charge in shaping the future of our community by delivering high-level, expert planning policy guidance and insight to the Council, driving decisions in alignment with Town and Country Planning legislation and beyond.

We also have a two-year fixed contract vacancy; please specify your preference in your application.

What will you be doing?

In this dynamic role, you will support the effective delivery of our planning functions, working positively and flexibly to help achieve the Council's strategic objectives. You will be at the forefront of providing excellent customer service, engaging with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders—including members of the public, Councillors, and MPs—ensuring every interaction reflects our commitment to responsiveness, professionalism, and care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the smooth and timely handling of customer enquiries, feedback, and complaints.
• Assisting with the maintenance and analysis of planning data to help meet and exceed performance targets.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of Local and Neighbourhood Plans, Supplementary Planning Documents, and broader planning policy.
• Providing up-to-date research and advice on national and regional planning frameworks, ensuring the Council remains aligned with statutory requirements and best practices.
• Playing a central role in delivering the Council's place-shaping vision—facilitating the right developments in the right places at the right time.

Our benefits

You can see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council.

About us

At West Northants Council, it's about our people—those who thrive with ambition, bring new ideas, demand better ways of working, care about every detail, and embrace challenges. Our culture offers new experiences and opportunities, empowering you in your career and connecting you with like-minded colleagues.

Our vision is 'to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive'. We are committed to this vision, working hard every day to turn it into reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE—Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate, and Empower—underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council: https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU.

We are dedicated to embedding diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of our work. As a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner, we strive to support all colleagues to develop and reach their full potential.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including access to the job description in another format or language, please email [e-mail].

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.

Attached documents

• Job Description and Person Specification.pdf