Senior Development Management Planner - Town Planning

This is a Development Management role within a Local Authority planning service. It is not a project planning, programme planning, construction planning or project controls position.

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Development Management Planner who can take ownership of a varied planning caseload and progress applications through to a clear, well-reasoned decision.

You’ll need strong working knowledge of planning law and policy, confidence interpreting plans and appeal decisions, and the judgement to deal with more complex or sensitive applications. You’ll be negotiating with developers and applicants, balancing competing views and producing reports and recommendations that can stand up to scrutiny.

The role will include:

• Managing and determining a varied caseload of planning applications

• Interpreting plans, planning policy, legislation, court decisions and appeal decisions

• Preparing clear delegated and committee reports, recommendations and correspondence

• Negotiating amendments and appropriate outcomes with applicants, agents, developers and other interested parties

• Dealing professionally with residents, members and stakeholders where views may be strongly opposed

• Presenting planning matters clearly and confidently

• Supporting Planning Committee work, including occasional out-of-hours meetings

• Using planning systems and producing service and caseload information where required

• Managing competing priorities and progressing cases within agreed timescales

To be considered, you must have:

• A degree in Town Planning

• Full membership of the RTPI or RICS Planning Division

• At least three years’ post-qualification Development Management experience

• Recent hands-on experience managing planning applications

• Strong knowledge of planning law, policy and practice

• The ability to interpret plans and reach sound, defensible planning judgements

• Strong report writing, negotiation and presentation skills

• The confidence to manage your own caseload and work with limited supervision

We need someone who understands Development Management properly and can contribute from the outset. You’ll be calm under pressure, tactful when required and firm enough to progress cases where there are competing interests or difficult conversations.

Applications from project planners, programme planners, schedulers and project controls professionals will not be suitable for this position.