Position: Senior Planning Technician (Complaints, FOI & Finance) - SO1
Location: 1 Catford Road, Catford, London, SE6 4RU
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Duration: 6+ Months - Two days in the office and 3 days remote once training is completed
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Pay Rate: PAYE: £22.14 per hour
Job Responsibilities
- Provide technical and administrative support across the Planning Service, with a focus on complaints, FOI requests, finance administration, and service improvement
- Manage planning service complaints from start to finish, including logging, tracking deadlines, coordinating responses, quality checking, and ensuring timely resolution
- Coordinate Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), and other information requests, including gathering information, maintaining records, and monitoring deadlines
- Support the preparation and redaction of sensitive documents in line with GDPR, confidentiality requirements, and information governance policies
- Maintain accurate records, trackers, and databases to support planning casework, complaints, and information management
- Monitor and report on complaints, FOI performance, customer enquiries, and service trends
- Provide financial administration support, including income monitoring, cost recovery, purchase orders, invoice processing, supplier setup, debt chasing, and reconciliations
- Produce management information, reports, and performance updates for the Planning Service
- Support planning service operations, including validation, consultations, and administrative processes for planning applications when required
- Assist with chargeable services, ensuring income is accurately recorded and monitored
- Support updates to planning webpages and customer-facing information to improve communication and customer experience
- Handle enquiries from residents, applicants, developers, councillors, and internal teams professionally and efficiently
- Provide guidance, training, and coaching to Planning Technicians and other team members where required
- Contribute to service improvement projects, process reviews, and customer care initiatives
- Ensure compliance with planning procedures, legislation, financial controls, FOI/EIR requirements, GDPR, and Council policies
- Work flexibly as part of the Planning team to manage workloads and meet service targets
Requirements
- Experience working in a planning, local authority, administrative, or customer service environment
- Strong understanding of administrative processes, record keeping, and data management
- Experience handling complaints, FOI/EIR requests, or sensitive information is desirable
- Knowledge of GDPR, confidentiality, and information governance requirements
- Experience supporting financial administration, including invoices, purchase orders, reconciliations, or income monitoring
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to prepare clear and professional responses
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy when handling records and documents
- Ability to analyse information, identify trends, and produce reports
- Ability to communicate effectively with residents, professionals, elected members, and internal stakeholders
- Experience using databases, case management systems, Microsoft Office, and digital systems
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to provide support, training, and guidance to colleagues
- Knowledge of planning processes and legislation is desirable
- Flexible and proactive approach with a commitment to delivering high-quality public services
Job Reference: OR109522
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 6 months
Pay: £22.14 per hour
Experience:
- planning service: 3 years (required)
- handling complaints, FOI requests, information requests: 3 years (required)
- managing administrative processes: 2 years (required)
- supporting financial administration tasks: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE6
