Senior Planning Officer

3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

To undertake the Council’s responsibilities for the control of development under the Town and Country Planning Acts and related legislation within the Borough. The postholder will assess planning applications and breaches of planning control, provide professional planning advice, and contribute to the effective delivery of development management services while supporting the wider planning team.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess, appraise, and determine planning applications, planning appeals, and breaches of planning control in accordance with planning legislation, policy, and material considerations.
  


• Prepare reports and recommendations for delegated decisions and Planning Committee determinations.
  


• Advise Planning Committee members and present cases at committee meetings as required.
  


• Represent the Council at appeals, hearings, public inquiries, and court proceedings where necessary.
  


• Negotiate with applicants, agents, developers, and stakeholders to achieve positive planning outcomes and resolve planning issues.
  


• Maintain a high standard of decision-making and contribute to achieving service performance targets, with a strong emphasis on pre-application engagement.
  


• Investigate alleged breaches of planning control and undertake site visits, including occasional visits outside normal working hours.
  


• Assist with the validation of planning applications where required.
  


• Support and mentor junior staff and provide management support to the Team Leader when necessary.
  


• Contribute to continuous service improvement within Development Management.
  


• Ensure compliance with Council policies, including Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, IT Security, and Emergency Planning requirements.
  


• Undertake training, professional development, and any other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.
  

Requirements

Qualifications & Professional Membership

• Degree in Planning or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
  


• Member of the MRTPI or eligible for membership.
  


• Full driving licence and ability to travel across the Borough.
  

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of planning law, planning policy, and development management.
  


• Knowledge of planning appeals, enforcement, heritage, and tree-related matters.
  


• Understanding of equal opportunities and inclusive working practices.
  


• Advanced knowledge of viability assessments, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, case law, and design principles (desirable).
  

Experience

• Significant experience in local government planning and development management.
  


• Extensive experience dealing with planning applications, enforcement matters, and appeals.
  


• Experience securing legal agreements (desirable).
  


• Previous management or supervisory experience (desirable).
  

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written communication skills, including report writing, correspondence, and appeal statements.
  


• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, including handling complex or challenging stakeholder discussions.
  


• Ability to assess and evaluate complex and often conflicting information.
  


• Strong analytical and numerical skills with the ability to collect, analyse, and interpret planning data.
  


• Political awareness and sensitivity.
  


• Ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines while maintaining high standards of service delivery.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Maidstone House, Maidstone
  


• Hours per Week: 37 hours
  


• Pay: Bi-weekly
  


• 3 Days Remote, 2 In Office