Senior Planning Policy Officer

Here’s your draft advert: Make a Difference in Lancaster
Join us as a Senior Planning Policy Officer and play a pivotal role in shaping Lancaster’s future. You’ll lead the development of housing and community service policies that meet local needs, support affordable housing delivery, and contribute to tackling the Climate Emergency. Your work will ensure our community thrives with safe, sustainable, and inclusive places to live.

What You’ll Be Doing
You will lead on strategic housing policies, support local plan-making, and provide expert advice to Councillors and colleagues. Your role includes mentoring junior staff, managing housing market assessments, and representing the Council at planning examinations and appeals. You’ll also engage with the community and stakeholders to ensure policies reflect local priorities.

You’ll Fit Right In If…
You hold or are eligible for Chartered status with the RTPI or MCIH and have a strong background in planning policy or strategic housing. You’re confident analysing complex data, writing clear reports, and communicating effectively. You share our values of Working Together, Ambition, Pride, and Ownership, and hold a full UK driving licence to attend site visits. Your collaborative spirit and commitment to community-focused planning will help you thrive here.

Ready to Join Us?
If you’re passionate about making a real difference in Lancaster, we’d love to hear from you. Find out more about what it’s like working with us, our benefits, values and culture, by visiting lancaster.gov.uk/sites/recruitment.

Why Work With Us
Our Benefits
• Generous annual leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Car purchase scheme
• Lifestyle savings
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Volunteering days
• Wellbeing support

Flexible working friendly
We welcome discussions about flexible working and may be able to offer hybrid working, a generous flexi-time scheme, and agreed working hours to support work–life balance.

Inclusive employer
We welcome applications from all parts of the community and are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
We guarantee interviews for applicants with a disability and armed forces veterans who meet the essential criteria.