Planning Officer

6 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Title: Planning Officer

Job Purpose

The Principal Planning Officer is responsible for managing a varied and complex caseload of planning applications providing professional planning advice and supporting the delivery of high-quality development management services within the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

The post holder will lead on the assessment and determination of complex planning applications represent the Council at planning appeals and public inquiries provide pre-application advice supervise junior officers and contribute to the achievement of the Councils planning regeneration and growth objectives. The role requires a detailed understanding of planning legislation policy and development management processes to ensure sound and defensible planning decisions are made in the public interest.

Key Responsibilities

Development Management

• Manage and determine a complex caseload of planning applications including major and sensitive developments.
  
• Lead the assessment evaluation and negotiation of planning proposals in accordance with national regional and local planning policies.
  
• Undertake site inspections consultations stakeholder engagement and negotiations to support planning recommendations.
  
• Prepare high-quality planning reports legal documents and committee reports.
  
• Provide expert planning advice to applicants developers consultants councillors and members of the public.
  
• Deliver pre-application advice and guidance in accordance with planning legislation and Council policies.
  
• Ensure decisions are legally compliant robust and defensible.
  

Appeals Enforcement and Planning Advice

• Lead on planning appeals including written representations hearings and Public Inquiries.
  
• Represent the Council before the Planning Inspectorate and other relevant bodies.
  
• Prepare appeal statements and evidence within statutory deadlines.
  
• Assist with planning enforcement matters including enforcement notices appeals and prosecution cases where required.
  
• Interpret and apply planning legislation case law and policy guidance to complex development proposals.
  

Leadership and Team Management

• Supervise mentor and support junior planning officers graduate planners and trainees.
  
• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance for reports and recommendations prepared by team members.
  
• Lead on staff development training coaching and performance improvement activities.
  
• Deputise for the Deputy Team Manager when required.
  
• Support service improvement initiatives and contribute to the development of policies procedures and best practice.
  

Stakeholder and Customer Engagement

• Represent the Planning Service at Planning Committees working groups public meetings and community events.
  
• Build productive relationships with developers consultants residents statutory consultees councillors and partner organisations.
  
• Coordinate effective stakeholder engagement throughout planning application processes.
  
• Deliver a customer-focused service while balancing competing priorities and statutory responsibilities.
  

Strategic Planning and Regeneration

• Support the delivery of the Councils regeneration growth and development objectives.
  
• Contribute to strategic planning projects and major regeneration initiatives.
  
• Work collaboratively with public and private sector partners to secure high-quality development outcomes.
  
• Commission and manage external consultants where appropriate.
  
• Lead projects and initiatives that support planning service improvement and innovation.
  

Performance and Governance

• Ensure planning performance targets service standards and statutory deadlines are achieved.
  
• Maintain accurate planning records and case management systems.
  
• Ensure compliance with planning legislation corporate governance requirements and council procedures.
  
• Contribute to service planning performance monitoring and continuous improvement activities.
  
• Promote equal opportunities customer care health and safety GDPR and Council policies in all areas of work.
  

Experience Required

Essential

• Significant experience working within a Development Management Planning environment.
  
• Experience assessing and determining a wide range of planning applications including complex and major developments.
  
• Experience preparing and presenting planning applications at Planning Committee.
  
• Experience representing an organisation at planning appeals hearings and/or Public Inquiries.
  
• Experience providing professional planning advice to applicants developers elected members and stakeholders.
  
• Experience negotiating planning solutions and securing positive development outcomes.
  
• Experience supervising mentoring or supporting junior members of staff.
  
• Experience producing high-quality technical reports and policy-based recommendations.
  
• Experience managing competing priorities and working to strict statutory deadlines.
  

Desirable

• Experience within a London Borough or Local Authority planning service.
  
• Experience with major regeneration and strategic development projects.
  
• Experience managing consultant commissions and project budgets.
  
• Experience leading service improvement initiatives.
  

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Town Planning Urban Planning Planning and Development or a related discipline.
  
• Eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or equivalent professional body.
  
• Minimum of three years post-qualification planning experience.
  

Desirable

• Full Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).
  
• Postgraduate qualification in Planning or a related subject.
  
• Additional professional training in planning law regeneration or development management.
  

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the Town and Country Planning Acts and associated legislation.
  
• Strong understanding of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) London Plan and local planning policies.
  
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.
  
• Strong analytical investigative and decision-making abilities.
  
• Ability to interpret complex planning legislation policy and case law.
  
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
  
• Strong organisational and project management capabilities.
  
• Ability to manage complex caseloads with minimal supervision.
  
• Effective leadership mentoring and coaching skills.
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
  
• Proficiency in planning systems databases and Microsoft Office applications.
  

Additional Information

• Employer: Royal Borough of Greenwich
  
• Position: Principal Planning Officer
  
• Grade: PO3 PO4
  
• Department: Place and Growth
  
• Service Area: Planning Development Management
  
• Location: Greenwich London
  
• Hours: 35 hours per week
  
• Pay Rate: 27.72 per hour (Umbrella)
  
• Working Pattern: Full-time
  
• Reporting To: Team Manager / Deputy Team Manager
  
• DBS Requirement: No DBS required
  
• Career Progression: Career graded post with progression opportunities in accordance with the Councils Career Grade Scheme.
  
• Payment: Bi-weekly payment schedule
  
• Start Date: Immediate start available
  

Closing Date: soon (early applications encouraged