Role: Principal Planning Officer REF 1797441
Contract Length: Until 12/02/27
Location: Hybrid/Telford - must be in the office Mondays for team meeting
IR35: Inside
Pay Rate to Intermediary: Up to £58 per hour
Security Clearance: BPSS
About the Role
Spinwell is recruiting for a Principal Planning Officer for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.
To carry out the professional duties of a Principal Development Planning Officer. To be a lead officer within Development management, responsible for a full range of development control matters including determination of planning applications under delegated powers, to lead and manage multi-disciplinary project teams dealing with all planning control matters for strategic developments and enquiries leading a caseload of major applications, and related appeals and developer enquiries, and to input to the wider professional work of the Planning Service.
Key Responsibilities
- To provide support to the Area Planning Manager in delivering a planning service that meets the objectives and Principles of Telford & Wrekin Council as well as statutory requirements
- As a key member of the Development Management supporting the development and delivery of the Councils statutory and discretionary functions, leading on the development of strategies, procedures and policies across the planning unit.
- To consider and determine a varied range of planning applications across the borough, with particular focus on Strategic Major Projects.
- To lead and manage multi-disciplinary project teams, dealing with all planning control matters for strategic developments and enquiries, within set timescales, including carrying out necessary site visits and negotiation of changes and legal agreements to schemes on behalf of other Council officers and external agencies.
- To carry out a project management approach to each planning application and pre-application enquiry.
- To interrogate, analyse and balance data from many competing needs to produce reports, make appropriate recommendations and authorise decisions, under the Councils scheme of delegation to officers, or to Planning Committee.
- To gather evidence and to prepare appeal statements, case files and other legal documents as may be necessary, and to attend and give evidence at public inquiries as an expert witness and other formal legal hearings both in their own capacity and as a lead officer representing the LPA supporting other members of the service..
- To be responsible for the delivery of service priorities, aims and objectives assigned to the post.
- The liaison with any party on behalf of the client, including organising and attending any meetings, including public consultation.
- To provide relevant development management advice to the preparation of any matters that affect planning issues across the Council – this includes the review of developing local plan policies,
- To also identify the need for specific Policies that affect Development Management, lead on the preparation, consultation and adoption – for instance preparation of Article 4 directions, local development orders, or specific Supplementary Planning Guidance
- This post will be expected to deputise for the Area Planning Manager in a professional capacity.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Postgraduate Qualification in Planning or related subject recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute
- Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development as required by RTPI. .
- Experience of managing and developing multi disciplinary teams working on major projects within a planning environment
- Significant working in a planning environment; with proven ability to work on highly complex matters,
- Substantial experience of working with members at a senior level
- Partnership working with other external organisations including other local government bodies, private sector organisations, voluntary bodies, national governing bodies, Sport England,
- Leading projects and driving through change effectively maintaining support of the affected parties within agreed timeframes
- Proven experience of presenting cases to formal legal inquiries
- Proven ability to lead projects/multidisciplinary teams and manage complex applications adopting a project management approach
- In depth working knowledge of Development Management and Planning process including local regional and national policy framework
- In depth knowledge of dealing with Major Planning applications, Section 106 Agreements and Development Management, including local, regional and national policies and priorities
- Proven ability to operate effectively within a large complex organisation, with the political acumen and skills to develop effective working and business relationships
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels including chief officers, members, employees and external partners
- Possess a high standard of interpersonal skills
- The ability to think creatively & offer solutions to a variety of challenges
- Strategic planning capability & proven competence in implementation
- Ability to negotiate and persuade, external partners and other organisations concerning complex and large scale issues
- A requirement to operate largely on own initiative in relation to management of the strategic planning applications
- Proven ability to lead projects/multidisciplinary teams and manage complex applications adopting a project management approach
- Political pressures upon the organisation.
- IT literacy
- Excellent and proven time management skills
- As a council employee you will be supported and expected to demonstrate the Councils Core Behaviours.Please note that these may be updated from time to time and are available on the Council’s intranet pages.
- Must show initiative and flexibility.
- Develops good relationships with others by behaving with integrity, treating people with respect and leading by example
- Negotiation and influencing skills
- Willing to abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy as an employee of the Council and to promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.
- Willing to take personal responsibility under and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policy
- Resilient and able to manage priorities
- IT literacy
- Good written and verbal presentation skills
- Must be prepared to work unsociable hours, weekdays and weekends on an irregular basis to meet service demands.
- Must have a current full driving licence and own transport available.
- The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide complex, detailed, legislative advice in accurate English is essential for the post.
- This post has been identified as a customer facing role and therefore the Council is required to fulfil their statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016. As a public body the Council is obliged to ensure member of staff in such roles are able to have a command of spoken English which is sufficient to enable the effective performance of their role.
- The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide complex, detailed, legislative advice in accurate English is essential for the post .
Candidate Privacy Notice
By applying for this vacancy, you acknowledge that Spinwell Global Limited will process your personal information for recruitment purposes and may contact you about other suitable opportunities. Your details may be retained for up to 24 months from your last meaningful interaction with us, in accordance with our Recruitment & Website Privacy Notice, available at www.spinwellglobal.com.