Planning Officer / Senior Planning Officer - Minerals & Waste

Protect it. Shape it. Plan for Dorset’s future.

Dorset has a rich and diverse geology, nationally significant landscapes and complex environmental designations. As the mineral and waste planning authority, Dorset Council plays a critical role in balancing economic need with environmental protection.

We are looking for a Planning Officer or Senior Planning Officer to join our Minerals and Waste Team within Spatial Planning. This is a career-graded post spanning Grades 9–11, with progression dependent on qualifications, experience and service need.

You will be part of a specialist team exercising the Council’s statutory functions as the minerals and waste planning authority, working across both development management and planning policy.

Employee benefits include membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave and flexible working.

What you can expect to be doing

These are generic posts and may involve both development management and policy work depending on workload and priorities.

You will:

• provide pre-application advice and interpret relevant planning policy
• assess the validity of planning applications and identify EIA or information requirements
• negotiate amendments to make proposals acceptable in policy terms
• prepare clear, comprehensive reports with recommendations, including conditions and planning obligations
• advise councillors, consultees, operators and members of the public on minerals and waste planning matters
• contribute to monitoring, enforcement and statutory reviews, including Review of Old Mineral Permissions and Habitats Regulations assessments
• attend liaison committees and external meetings, representing the Council
• contribute to the preparation, monitoring and examination of minerals and waste planning policy

At higher grades you will take on more complex casework, lead internal project teams, supervise consultants, represent the Council independently at external meetings and, at Senior Planning Officer level, give professional evidence at public examinations or inquiries.

The role includes a significant travel requirement for site visits and meetings.

About you

Applicants at all levels are expected to hold a degree-level qualification, preferably a postgraduate planning qualification providing the route to Chartered Membership of the RTPI.

For Grade 9, you should ideally have some post-qualification experience in a planning or closely related role.

For Grade 10, full planning qualification is normally expected, preferably with Chartered Membership of the RTPI or eligibility to apply, alongside relevant post-qualification experience.

For Grade 11, Chartered Membership and significant planning experience, including post-chartership experience, are normally essential.

Across all levels, you will:

• manage a significant workload and meet challenging deadlines
• demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills
• present confidently to committees, inquiries and public forums
• understand democratic processes and public consultation
• work effectively within a team and advise others where required
• be adaptable and able to balance competing demands
• share our values of Respect, Together, Accountability, Openness and Curiosity

If you are motivated by complex planning challenges, public interest decision-making and shaping long-term policy in a unique county, this is an opportunity to develop your career within a specialist and supportive team.

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.