Business Centre: Development Management

Division: Planning, Economy & Built Environment

Post Number:F0063, F0066, F0069, F0072, F0075, F0078, F0081, F0084, F0087, F0088, F0090

Working Hours: 37

General Appointment ranges:Planning Officer (DM) – 8/9, Senior Planning Officer (DM) - 10, Principal Planning Officer (DM) - MMA

Hybrid Working:Yes, By agreement of Corporate Head of Service

Work Base:Civic Centre, Addlestone

Reports to: Development Manager or Assistant Development Manager

To be responsible to and assist the Development Manager for the development management aspects of the Authority’s planning function.

To assist in delivering a quality planning service providing professional expertise, technical advice and guidance to positively shape development.

The post holder will contribute to the broad range of functions involved in the planning and Development Management Process. The post holder will provide Development Management expertise in response to both requests for advice and guidance across the authority, and in response to the needs of external customers, at all stages of the planning process.

Generic Duties common to all job levels/grades:

You will be educated to degree level, ideally in a field related to Town Planning or Geography. 

At least 1 years' experience in a planning, development, plan/technical drawing, architecture or related context and demonstrate aptitude for and a commitment to a career in town planning. 

You will be operating with a high level of direction, guidance and supervision by The Development Manager, Assistant Development Manager or other appropriate Senior Officer including in the area of work planning and organisation. You will be dealing with more simple householder/commercial applications, pre-application advice requests and condition discharge proposals and monitoring as example tasks. You will have to use limited negotiation and influencing skills. 

You will have completed an accredited planning degree be working towards an RTPI accredited professional planning qualification or equivalent.  At least 2 years’ experience in determining planning applications and appeals.

Significant equivalent experience in determining planning applications and appeals, that satisfies the Head of Service that you have the skills and aptitude to perform at this level. 

You will be operating with a medium level of direction, guidance and supervision and assistance on work planning and organisation by the Development Manager, Assistant Development Manager or other appropriate Senior Officer. 

You will be dealing with householder, small scale new build proposals, commercial applications, appeals, pre-application advice requests and condition discharge proposals of moderate complexity as example tasks. You will be operating a moderate level of negotiation and influencing skills with occasional support from your supervisor. You will be presenting your applications at Planning Committee as required by your manager.

You will have obtained an RTPI accredited planning qualification and at least the equivalent of 3-4 years’ experience in determining planning applications and appeals of medium complexity. 

OR 

Significant equivalent experience in determining planning applications and appeals, that satisfies the Head of Service that you have the skills and aptitude to perform at Senior Planning Officer level. 

You will be operating with lower level/minimal direction, guidance and supervision and assistance on work planning and organisation by the Development Manager, Assistant Development Manager or other appropriate Senior Officer. 

You will need to be able to demonstrate aptitude and skills to deal with senior level work. You will normally be dealing with householder, minor applications, and potentially less complex major applications, pre-application advice on a range of application types, condition discharge work, including conditions relating to large major scale development proposals. 

You will be operating your negotiation and influencing skills independently. You will be presenting applications at Planning Committee as required by your manager. You will appear for the Council at Informal Hearings and potentially less complex planning inquiries.

You will need to deal with and understand a range of complex and technical planning matters, in a high-pressured, front-facing role where the skills needed to successfully deal with your case load will be required on a long-term, permanent basis. Using your own judgement, you will need to interpret and take a view on the issues raised and form a well-reasoned and justified recommendation (in the form of a case officer report), that is a lawful planning decision and does not leave the Council at risk of a legal challenge. You will need to have the ability to convey complex and interrelated technical planning matters to our customers in simple terms. 

You will be able to demonstrate considerable experience in dealing with complex planning applications. Ideally you will have a broad experience of appeal and committee work. Generally, this would be expected to be at least equivalent of at least five years of experience of Development Management (or be able to demonstrate significant experience and skills in determining planning applications and appeals, that satisfies the Head of Service that you have the skills and aptitude to perform at Principal Planning Officer level.)

You will be able to provide evidence of continuous professional development. Membership of Professional body e.g. RTPI highly desirable; or significant other experience.

You will have the skills and aptitude to manage a wide range of planning applications including significant ‘major’ projects/development schemes. You will be able to ensure that plans are effectively managed, all project milestones, local and national performance targets are achieved and that external partners, developers and agents, and relevant Council staff are kept effectively up to date with progress, whilst exercising a high degree of autonomy, with support from your manager.

You will deal with all types of appeal work including giving lead evidence at planning Public Inquiries. 

You will have the skills to mentoring and assist with the development of more junior staff as required.

You will need to have the ability to convey complex and interrelated technical planning matters to a wide array of stake holders including members and customers.