Planning Officer - Grade 8

Looking for a new and exciting challenge? Protect it. Shape it. Enjoy it. Be part of Dorset.

Dorset is a beautiful and iconic area, with historic market towns and miles of stunning coast. But it’s also a place of growth and innovation, with a population of 375,000 and an economy worth over £7 billion. To serve this unique area, a new unitary council was established in 2019. Bold and ambitious, with a One Team approach, we’re taking Dorset into the future – and our Planning team is taking centre stage.

Our Planning team is set to deal with 5,000 planning applications a year – everything from significant urban extensions, to small scale, householder projects. To make sure each one has a positive impact on our area, we need a Planning Officer to join our Western and Southern area fast track team, to deal with householder applications and other small scale development including advertisement consent and applications for listed building consent.

You will generally be expected to hold a degree or equivalent in Town Planning or a related subject; or a degree in an unrelated subject and previous relevant experience in a planning environment in either public or private sector. Whilst holding a degree would be an advantage, applicants who do not hold a degree can still be considered for this role, providing they can demonstrate relevant previous experience in a planning environment.

The role will include working with developers, communities, colleagues within the council and external bodies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency to bring forward appropriate new development. You will prepare reports and recommendations on planning applications, and will also deal with written representation appeals and site visits. The role offers the opportunity to gain a broad range of development management experience and is ideal for someone looking to progress their career in planning in a supportive team environment.

All our roles call for affinity with our values: Respect, Openness, Together, Accountability, Curiosity. With a team that lives by these principles, we have a friendly and supportive workplace where you’ll be free to learn, develop and thrive. Employee benefits are generous and include a local government pension, flexible working, the opportunity for significant home working and continual learning and development. If you are looking for a new and exciting challenge and hope to improve the quality of your leisure time, with beautiful beaches and countryside on your doorstep just waiting to be explored, a Planning career in Dorset comes with everything you need.

This is a full time role at 37 hours per week, fixed term until 31 January 2028.

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed. 

The interview process will consist of a mix of experience, skills and competency type questions as well as a short task. 

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.