Position: Senior Planning Officer (Planning)
Location: Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3JE
Start Date: ASAP (Immediate start required)
Contract Duration: 3+ Months
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Pay Rate: PAYE: £35.21 per hour
Job Responsibilities
- Manage and process a varied caseload of complex planning applications from submission through to decision
- Assess planning applications against national planning policy, local plans, planning guidance and relevant legislation
- Prepare accurate and well-reasoned planning reports, recommendations and delegated/committee reports
- Provide professional planning advice to applicants, agents, councillors, residents and internal stakeholders
- Conduct site visits, evaluate proposals and assess planning impacts
- Handle pre-application enquiries and provide clear, customer-focused planning advice
- Liaise with internal departments, external consultees, developers and members of the public
- Manage consultations, review representations and respond to planning-related queries
- Present applications and recommendations at planning committees when required
- Ensure decisions are made within statutory deadlines and service targets
- Support junior planning officers and contribute to knowledge sharing and team development
- Maintain accurate case records and use planning IT systems effectively
- Contribute to service improvements, policy development and the delivery of high-quality planning services
Person Specification
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience working within a local authority planning environment
- Strong knowledge of planning legislation, policies, procedures and development management processes
- Experience managing complex planning applications and delivering high-quality planning assessments
- Ability to prepare clear, accurate and professional planning reports and recommendations
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with applicants, stakeholders, councillors and the public
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
- Ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines and a varied workload
- Experience using planning software and digital systems
- Ability to work independently and make sound professional judgements
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Experience working at Senior Planning Officer level within a local authority
- Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or working towards professional accreditation
- Experience presenting reports to planning committees
- Knowledge of St Albans City and District Council's planning policies and local development framework
- Experience mentoring or supporting junior planning officers
Additional Requirements
- Ability to attend the Council Offices, Civic Centre, St Albans (AL1 3JE)
- Must have the right to work in the UK
- Must provide satisfactory references and required employment checks
- Commitment to delivering a customer-focused, fair and transparent planning service
Job Reference: 5302010
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 3 months
Pay: £35.21 per hour
Application question(s):
- Are you a member of the RTPI or working towards RTPI accreditation?
Experience:
- working as a Planning Officer: 2 years (required)
- Development Management/Planning: 2 years (required)
- presented planning applications at Committee meeting: 2 years (required)
- using Local Authority planning/case management systems: 2 years (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
