Senior / Principal Planner

Burnley Borough Council; Burnley; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Burnley is seeking a Senior/Principal Planner to deliver a responsive planning service. This role requires extensive planning experience, particularly with complex applications and excellent negotiation skills. The successful candidate will work closely with senior management and mentor junior staff. The council offers a supportive environment for career progression along with benefits like a pension scheme and work/life balance initiatives.

Benefits

Career-average pension scheme

Annual leave entitlement

Work/life balance initiatives

Qualifications

• Significant planning experience at officer level.
• Experience dealing with major and complex planning applications.
• Mentorship experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a highly efficient and responsive planning service.
• Work closely with the Planning Team Manager and Head of Service.
• Mentor less experienced team members.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Conflict resolution

Planning process knowledge

Education

Degree in Town Planning or equivalent

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Burnley Council’s Development Management Service as a Senior / Principal Planner. You will work as a senior member of a team to deliver a highly efficient and responsive planning service that promotes sustainable growth.

The post is career graded. The advert invites applications from people who have significant planning experience at officer level and would like to further their career at a senior level to people who have significant experience and knowledge at a senior level who can work at a principal level.

Depending upon your starting level you will then be supported through a competency framework as your career progresses.

In recent years Burnley has seen significant economic and housing growth with sound planning at the heart of the Council’s vision to make Burnley the first choice for business investment and as a place to live. We are seeking a key individual who will work closely with the Planning Team Manager and Head of Service to promote and deliver our ambitious agenda. You will have a positive attitude that will bring a practical and supportive approach to development in the borough.

You will have a detailed knowledge of the planning process including experience of dealing with major and complex planning applications and planning appeals. It is essential you have excellent negotiation skills including the ability to resolve conflict.

For appointment at Principal Level, it is essential you have a degree in Town Planning, or equivalent, with relevant planning content. It is also essential you have experience of negotiating with developers on development proposals, including negotiating s106 agreements.

For both positions you will be a mentor to less experienced members of the team.

Burnley is a great place to work and if you are determined to progress your planning career then we can offer you a diverse and interesting challenge that will support your ambitions. We value our employees and offer a career-average pension scheme, annual leave entitlement and work/life balance initiatives.

This is a Politically Restricted Post within the meaning of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

For an informal discussion on the content of the job description or person specification, please contact Laura Golledge, Planning Team Manager, on 01282 475993.