Planning Officer

A great opportunity to be involved in ensuring high quality development and place making is achieved within the District. This will ensure the beautiful nature of our rural area is maintained and enhance which is in east Surrey, bordering Kent and the London Boroughs to the north. We are a Green Belt authority with two National Landscapes in the District.

We know there are many things that residents love about Tandridge District including our fantastic location, our countryside and the community feel of our towns and villages. We think you will love Tandridge too.

The Role

Have you got a degree in Planning or are you looking to start your career in Planning? Do you have a passion for improving the environment and would you relish the chance to work in a beautiful rural authority on the edge of London? Tandridge District Council’s busy Development Management team needs an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to make a difference to our Planning service. This is a great opportunity for individuals to start their planning career, or for existing planners to gain experience that supports career progression, while processing and determining a wide variety of planning applications.

Following an internal promotion, we are seeking a Planning Officer to join the Development Management team. The successful candidate will take on a variety of applications received by the Council. You will be supported by a Planning Development Manager who will be able to provide guidance but you will need to be able to work on your own initiative in dealing with your caseload. The position plays an important role in shaping the District’s environment and maintaining the Development Management team’s high performance. The role provides an excellent opportunity to broaden your experience and skill base in a friendly and supportive working environment with a great opportunity to further your career in planning.

What we offer

When you join us your expertise, skills and experience will be valued, and your career development will be our priority.

We are committed to creating a collaborative and innovative environment which empowers you to thrive. You will be part of a friendly, supportive One Team culture with the chance to make a real difference.

We believe in balancing hard work with fun. Our active social team organises two to three events a year, ranging from Staff Awards, quiz nights to rounders in the park, helping the workplace to be productive and enjoyable.

We use Viva Engage to keep you connected and engaged and we hold regular face to face meetings, such as Chief Executive briefings to keep you in the loop.

We are conveniently located close to Oxted Station and have some on-site parking.

In addition to the stated pay, we offer membership and contributions towards the Local Government Pension Scheme, flexible working (giving you the opportunity to work from home for up to three days a week), flexi-time, payment of a relevant professional subscription and access to a discounted health scheme.

Please visit our website for more information about working for us www.tandridge.gov.uk/jobs and download our Working for Tandridge guide.

Diversity statement

At Tandridge District Council, we pride ourselves on maintaining an inclusive workplace, ensuring equality, fairness, and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do and good practice is embedded in the Council’s culture and services.

We welcome applications from all sectors of our community, including BAME, LGBTQ+ and all groups protected under the Equality Act.

Tandridge is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Want to know more?

If this sounds like your kind of challenge and you want to be part of our friendly and supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.

If you’d like to find out more, please read our role profile and specification, or for an informal discussion about the role, please e-mail Paul Batchelor, pbatchelor@tandridge.gov.uk

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey is part of the government’s plans for local government reorganisation. This means the current two tier system, where services are split between Surrey County Council and district and borough councils like Tandridge, will be replaced with larger councils, which handle all local services.

Although this may lead to some uncertainty for anyone considering a role with us, we need to continue to provide services.

When local government is reorganised, most staff will transfer to the new council on their current terms and conditions. Being part of a larger organisation may offer additional opportunities for career development and variety. The majority of the roles we currently have will still be needed whether that is for planning, housing, recycling and waste, finance, IT, HR etc.

Find out more about what local government reorganisation means for us.