- East Suffolk Council, Riverside (Lowestoft) or East Suffolk House (Melton)
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£26,403 to £28,142
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37 hours per week
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Fixed Term up to 3 months
East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.
We are seeking to fill a fixed term post for a Landscape Compliance Monitoring Assistant over the summer to assist with the council’s programme of landscape compliance monitoring. The role sits alongside Landscape and Arboriculture officers as part of our Specialist Services teams which includes our Ecology team, Design and Heritage Team and Public Rights of Way Specialist-Services-Prospectus.pdf
The role will provide additional support within the Specialist Services Team to monitor the implementation of approved landscape schemes, ecological mitigation, tree planting and green infrastructure secured through the planning process.
East Suffolk is experiencing significant levels of development and infrastructure delivery, including residential, mixed-use development, energy projects and other types of development. The role will support the Council’s landscape compliance monitoring programme through site inspections, record keeping, evidence gathering and liaison with developers, management companies and planning officers. This will help ensure approved landscape and ecological measures are delivered in accordance with planning consents and management plans, whilst identifying issues at an early stage where intervention may be required.
The role is intended as a development placement and would suit candidates who are working towards, or have recently completed, a qualification in a related field (e.g. landscape, horticulture, arboriculture, ecology). Our experienced and well-resourced specialist teams provide a great opportunity for career learning, professional training and development.
Key tasks
The successful candidate will work with the council’s Landscape Management Officer to primarily:
Identify sites for monitoring using council data and maintain accurate site monitoring data.
Carry out site visits on new and recently completed developments throughout East Suffolk to ensure planting and landscape features comply with approved plans.
Liaise with council officers, developers, management companies and other stakeholders to resolve issues and support enforcement measures where required.
Key requirements / skills
Must be mobile and have access to a car to carry out site visits across the whole district.
Good / developing plant identification skills and knowledge of the principles of horticulture and tree establishment.
Ability / willingness to learn. A commitment to your own development and desire to take opportunities for training.
Basic computer literacy and some familiarity with standard office software (e.g. Excel / Word)
Ability / willingness to undertake lone working out in the field.
What we can offer
An excellent development opportunity, experiencing what it is like to work within a busy planning department and the Specialist Services team at East Suffolk Council.
On the job training for all aspects of the role, building on your recent or current studies.
Flexibility in the term of the contract (length) with potential for part-time arrangements (to be negotiated through the application process)
The successful candidate will be based out of our Melton or Lowestoft Office, although a large proportion of the role will be carrying out site visits. Some home-based working can be agreed by negotiation for desk / office-based tasks.
If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this fixed term role - even if you don’t meet all of the essential requirements - we want to hear from you and look forward to having the opportunity to consider your application.
Why work for us?
East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work.
In addition to the rural and urban diversity of East Suffolk itself, the district is close to the large urban centres of both Norwich and Ipswich, with rail services providing access to the Council’s offices by train. We might be 'on the edge' but we can be accessed easily from a wide area (jpg) and offer flexible and remote working in a dynamic team.
Here are some of the main benefits:
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Great opportunities for training and development
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Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
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Local government pension scheme
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Free car parking (for when you are working in the office)
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Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.
Please see our benefits brochure for further information.
Most of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were the successful candidate, please contact the recruiting manager listed at the bottom of this advert.
For more information
You can find out more about planning in East Suffolk and the work we do on our planning recruitment webpage.
For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Chris King, Design and Specialist Services Manager, or Hamish Liddle, Landscape Management Officer on email [email protected] or [email protected]
Closing date: Midday 15th July 2026
Interview date: 22nd and 23rd July 2026
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification
Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template. Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).
Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.
For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site.
East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.
We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.
To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWedQksWt0
