Graduate Planning Officer

Our Planning Officers provide advice to the public, developers, agents, Members, other departments of the Council on all Development Management matters; from the provision of appropriate pre-application advice and the effective and efficient processing of minor planning applications to applications for planning permission and all other related consents.  

As Graduate Planning Officer, you’ll be supported to develop your skills in determining planning applications and pre-application discussions.

You will gain an understanding of how to assess the planning merits of each application and apply planning policy and guidance to the proposed form of development. You'll work alongside Senior Planning Officers dealing with major planning applications and other training opportunities to expand your knowledge. Working with Team Leaders and colleagues across the service will enable you to gain a good understanding of the relevant laws, guidance, policies and practice which underpin Development Management. 

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

Day to day, you’ll support with pre-application enquiries, give technical advice, support with Planning Performance Agreements, extensions of time, appeals, deal with enforcement cases and a range of other processes carried out within the team. In this varied role, Planning Officers attend site visits, meetings with external organisations, Planning Committee and working parties as required. When required, you’ll support our Planning Policy team by providing input into the formulation of planning policies and support the Major Projects Team where large-scale projects require additional technical resource and input.  

 With the support of the Development Management Team Leader, the Principal Planning Officers and other colleagues, you’ll have appropriate on the job training as well as external training courses and mentoring. You’ll be supported to develop the necessary knowledge, experience and skills to become a Planning Officer and work independently to support our Planning Service. 

You will need a genuine interest in the built environment and an interest in ensuring our community in West Northants thrives.  

Planning is a technical field, so an aptitude in area is needed, but what we do in Planning affects people’s lives, so you’ll need to be a strong communicator with the ability to empathise and negotiate.  

In planning, we are passionate about people, places and sustainability. We balance development to support new housing and jobs with protecting the environment for future generations and our commitment to net zero by 2030. We want to create an outstanding natural environment, fit for future generations. If this is something that you feel excited about, we’d love to hear from you! 

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.  

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU 

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.