Senior Planning Officer

Looking for a new and exciting challenge? Would you like to develop your planning career in a beautiful and iconic area which not only has thousands of listed buildings, national landscape designations and England’s only natural World Heritage Site – the Jurassic Coast, but is also a place of growth and innovation?

What you can expect to be doing

As a Senior Planning Officer you would be one of 8 officers in “fast track” teams in the Southern and Western planning committee area. You would have the opportunity to shape local place making and drive high-quality design through the consideration of complex minor applications and some small-scale major applications

No two days are ever the same in the “fast track” team with a diverse range of applications which may include minor residential and commercial, agriculture, tourism and renewable energy developments. The senior planning officer role provides extensive opportunities for negotiation, including:

• Any necessary planning obligations
• Shaping development through pre-application enquiries
• Presenting applications to committee
• Representing the Council at hearings and public inquiries

There will be the opportunity to undertake case reviews, signing off applications under the council’s scheme of delegation and to mentor planning officers in the “fast track” teams.

About you:

You will:

• Hold a degree-level qualification in town planning (or related subject) and it is normally expected a postgraduate qualification in planning
• Post-qualification experience in a planning role, in either the public or private sector
• Chartered membership of the RTPI or eligibility to apply is desirable

You will have experience of and be confident in dealing with complex minor applications and experience of small-scale majors is desirable. You should be confident at the presentation of those applications at planning committee. Experience of informal hearings and public inquiries is desirable. Being able to demonstrate experience of mentoring and signing off applications would also be desirable.

Protect it. Shape it. Enjoy it. Be part of Dorset!

Employee benefits are generous and include a local government pension, flexible and family friendly working, the opportunity for significant home working and continual learning and development opportunities. If you are looking for a new and exciting challenge a Planning career in Dorset comes with everything you need.

This is a permanent full time role at 37 hours per week.Part-time applicants will be considered.

The post has a significant travel requirement and you are contractually required to have a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the council) available for use as required.

You do not need to live in Dorset – we are able to work in a hybrid way but we would ask that you visit Dorset at least once a week for in-person team meetings (in Dorchester) and to undertake site visits. In addition, in-person attendance at planning committee is also required when presenting a planning application. The option to work at other officers (Wareham and Wimborne) or from home for the remainder of the week is available. 

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.