Senior Planning Officer

How you'll make a difference:

The Development Management Team determines approximately 2,500 planning applications a year, and as a Senior Planning Officer, you will work across the complex and controversial applications received to shape the future of South Gloucestershire. The decisions you make will help create a high-quality built and natural environment for the enjoyment of all our residents and visitors.

What you will be doing:

• Daily, you will work on a varied case load of planning applications and pre-application advice requests, primarily the major and more complex minor applications received by the development management team.
• You will present your applications before the development control committee, the spatial planning committee and the sites inspection sub-committee.
• It will be your responsibility to negotiate section 106 agreements and to prepare responses to appeals, which could include written reports and appearing at hearings and public enquiries.
• Acting as a mentor, your will help guide and develop more junior members of the team sharing your knowledge and technical expertise.
• As required, you will present at internal senior officer and political briefings, formal council meetings, assist with policy formulation, and external meetings relating to the work area.

What we need from you:

• You will have an appropriate degree relative to town and country planning and full membership of, or the ability to work towards full membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
• It is essential that you can demonstrate experience of determining complex or controversial planning applications and interpreting policy.
• We require you to have a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant legislation and regulatory framework for the provision of the development management service.
• You will have fine-tuned negotiating skills and experience in amending schemes and reaching S106 agreement outcomes.
• Good communication skills are key, so you will be confident in communicating with all customers, in both formal and public environments.

What you need to know:

• You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.
• If you use your own vehicle for council work, business insurance will need to be added to your insurance policy.
• This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Yate and working from home. You will be expected to attend the office regularly, including for team meetings.
• Interviews are expected to be held on 14th July 2025.
  

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different:

• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
• We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance
• What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos, the support and the training.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: Senior Planning Officer job description