Planning Officer

A client within the Public Sector based in Northamptonshire is currently recruiting for a Planning Officer to join their Planning Policy team as soon as possible. The client is offering a full time, temporary position on an ongoing basis with the ideal candidate having experience of working within a local authority within a planning policy and development environment.

The Role
Key purpose of the role is to support the delivery of the Council’s planning policy function, leading and assisting on projects, workstreams, and evidence-based policy development. The successful candidate will help implement policies, provide advice on planning matters, prepare reports and statements, and contribute to consultations, public engagement, and external examinations where required.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Leading or assisting on projects and workstreams to develop planning policy, guidance, and evidence-based documents.
• Researching, preparing, and analysing evidence to support policy development for both North Northamptonshire and specific local areas.
• Providing guidance on neighbourhood plans and supporting community engagement exercises, exhibitions, and consultations.
• Preparing policy observations on complex planning applications and providing advice to internal departments.
• Representing the Council at hearings, inquiries, and court, including preparing statements and supporting appeals and prosecutions.
• Maintaining monitoring systems and databases, analysing trends, and reporting on planning policy metrics.
• Assisting with the procurement of professional consultants to advise on technical matters for plan-making.
• Supporting the development and application of IT tools, including GIS, within the planning policy process.

The Candidate
To be considered for this role you will require:

• A relevant degree or equivalent qualification to allow access to Chartered membership of the RTPI (or equivalent).
• Licentiate or Chartered membership of the RTPI (or working towards).
• Experience of planning policy projects or non-major planning applications within a local authority environment.
• Strong knowledge of the English planning system, planning legislation, and current planning practices.

The below skills would be beneficial for the role:

• Experience using computerised planning systems and GIS.
• Excellent communication, report writing, and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational, time management, and customer service skills.
• Ability to carry out site visits across a variety of locations, including domestic properties, overgrown land, and building sites.
• Ability to successfully negotiate planning improvements with developers.

The client is looking to move quickly with this role and as such are offering £60 per hour Umbrella LTD Inside IR35 (approx. £50 per hour PAYE).

How to Apply
If this position sounds of interest, email a copy of your up-to-date CV to amy.dhawan@servicecare.org.uk or call Amy at Service Care Construction on 01772 208967
to discuss the vacancy in more detail.
Also, if this role is not of interest to you, but you are looking for new opportunities, please still get in touch as we cover all construction-related vacancies across the region.

Referral Bonus
If this role is not suitable for yourself, but you know someone who may be interested, please pass on their details, or forward these details to them. If they are successful in applying, you will receive a £250 referral bonus upon completion of an initial probationary period.