Principal Planning Officer
£52,425 - £52,107 plus 8% market supplement per annum
Permanent
Cirencester / Agile Working
Shape the Future of the Cotswolds
Are you an ambitious and experienced planner looking to work on some of the country’s most complex and rewarding planning projects in one of the UK’s most distinctive landscapes? We are seeking a Principal Planning Officer to join our ambitious and forward-thinking Planning Service in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds, helping to deliver sustainable growth across an area renowned for its natural beauty, historic towns, and ambitious regeneration and commercial development opportunities.
Working within a collaborative Planning Service of around 40 professionals across Development Management, Policy, and Natural and Built Environment teams, you will lead a small sub-team of planners while managing a diverse caseload of major, strategic, commercial, and sensitive planning applications.
The role offers the opportunity to work on a wide range of high-profile planning projects, including major residential, commercial, heritage, and rural developments within the unique Cotswolds landscape. Alongside casework, you will contribute to service improvement initiatives, strategic projects, and the modernisation of planning processes.
This influential role requires strong technical planning skills, excellent judgement, and the confidence to engage effectively with Members, developers, consultants, parish councils, and local communities. We are looking for an organised and proactive planner who is ready to step into a leadership role, mentor junior colleagues, and help shape the future of planning within a dynamic and highly regarded authority.
If you’re passionate about good place-making, mentoring others, and shaping the future of planning in the Cotswolds, we’d love to hear from you.
You will need
· A planning or related degree.
· Eligibility for full Membership of the RTPI.
· Substantial experience at Senior Planner level.
· The ability to facilitate and manage ongoing change
· The ability to inspire and successfully motivate others towards shared objectives
· Deliver
commitments and take ownership of own caseload, reshaping of plans to deliver
required outcomes
Special Conditions
· Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle for work purposes
· This is a politically restricted appointment within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1989 and regulations made there under.
Advert Closing Date: 18th June 2026
What can we do for you
· Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
· Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
· 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
· In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
· Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
· Generous contributory local government pension scheme
· Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
· Cycle to work scheme
· Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
· Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements