Vacancies

Principal Planning Officer

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

About the role

Our two Development Management teams (North and South) are critical to the delivery of sustainable growth in West Northamptonshire, managing a varied caseload of around 4500 applications per year in our urban and rural areas. As well as supporting our external service users, these teams work across the council to facilitate projects in education, sustainability, assets, regeneration and affordable housing. The teams support our North and South Planning Committees in their decision making.

As a Principal Planning Officer, your role involves offering expert guidance in the realm of Development Management. This means you'll be the go-to person for providing appropriate pre-application advice and ensuring the effective and efficient handling of minor planning applications, as well as various other types of planning requests and permissions. This role sits within our Development Management Team, reporting to the Development Management Team Leader.

What will you be doing?

As one of our future leaders, your role will involve supporting the Head of Development Management and our Team Leaders to line manage and mentor up to four reports from our Senior Planning Officers, Planning Officers, and our Graduates. We’ll support you every step of the way with a personalised Career Development Plan to gain leadership experience and to follow your ambitions.

Your day to day will be varied and busy! You will be responsible for overseeing the efficient operation of the Planning Service and will have the benefit of a varied and exciting caseload. You will have the ability to manage conflicting priorities within a pressurised environment and be motivated to enable WNC to achieve the best for our residents, ensuring compliance with performance indicators and fostering a positive, proactive approach to development projects.

About you

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Principal Planning Officer to join our busy and friendly Development Management Team. With your extensive experience and expertise, you will lead, contribute, and support in the success of our Development Management Service.

You will be a corporate member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and have evidence of continued professional development. A relevant undergraduate degree and experience in Development Management and dealing with planning applications and appeals is essential, as well as an excellent knowledge of working effectively in a political environment with a wide range of stakeholders.

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
Cycle to Work scheme.
Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
Car Lease scheme
Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
Ongoing training and development opportunities.
A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About us

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they 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

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.