Are you ready for a new challenge? Dudley Council has a Senior Planning Officer role in the Planning Policy Team.

Dudley is considered the historic capital of the Black Country. An area with a rich heritage, located near many towns and cities, as well as green spaces, making it the perfect place to work and live. Dudley is currently undergoing a period of growth, which will continue with the extension of the Midland Metro, the new Dudley Interchange and the completion of Health Innovation Dudley providing a new higher education facility within the borough. The Council has been successful in securing funding (including heritage and Local Regeneration Funds) to support a number of regeneration and public realm projects across the borough’s towns.

Alongside this, the emerging Dudley Local Plan is close to adoption and work is commencing on both a new Local Plan under the new planning system and the West Midlands Spatial Development Strategy. The position offers an ideal career opportunity to gain valuable experience working in an urban authority.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual who has excellent negotiation and communication skills, as well as a flair for problem solving.  You should be a RTPI accredited professional or have sufficient post qualification experience to be eligible for chartered membership of the RTPI, as well as having experience working within a planning policy environment. You should also have a full UK driving licence, please state this in your application.

More specifically:

Working within the planning policy team, you will play an important role in the preparation of the Local Plan and other policy documents, including research, policy formulation and participation in consultation events and independent examinations. Changes in planning policy also present fantastic opportunities to work on strategies for growth at both the local and regional level. You will also be involved in the preparation of supplementary plans, masterplans and development briefs. You will provide advice on planning policy issues to a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders - including elected members, developers and government agencies.  You should have experience of working within a planning policy environment.

Hours: 37 per week

Salary: £42,839-£46,142 (pay award pending)

Contract: Full Time Permanent

Location: Hybrid working – from home and office: Council House, Priory Road, Dudley

Benefits we offer:

·     Planning Services operate an agile working environment and offer flexible working time with the ability to accrue flexi-time leave.

·     Leave entitlement of 30 days, rising by 4 further days after 5 years continuous service.

·     Season tickets for car parking facilities are provided along with mileage allowance.

·     The service offers a supportive environment with the ability to experience a wide variety of work streams and application types within an experienced and diverse team. Continued professional development is a strong part of the planning services ethos and is actively encouraged.

For further information please contact

Elizabeth Vesty, Principal Planning Officer, on 01384 817213 email: [email protected]  

Interviews likely to be held weeks commencing 20^th and 27^thJuly 2026.