Planning Technical Support Officer

Role Responsibility

We have an opportunity to join the Planning Technical Support Team in the County Planning Authority.  The Team supports the work of the Planning Application Group which deals with mineral and waste development matters and the County Council’s own community development planning applications.

Along with others in the Team, in this role you will undertake the key technical stages in the planning process including those associated with planning application and correspondence receipt, fee administration, registration of applications, publicity, consultation and provide technical support for the decision making processes. You will accurately prepare, create, maintain and organise information and records using our processes and software systems. This will include accurately plotting geographical information on a map, finding and retrieving information and producing reports and information for others in the Group and as required by planning processes.   You will carry out system administration for our bespoke computer software - the work will involve user testing of any system changes, producing document templates, reports and updating system settings. You will become a superuser of the system and be able to help others in the Group too.  You will also undertake technical support activities relating to reconciliation of fee and income receipts and will carry out the internal processes required to support the Group purchasing and receipt of invoices.

You will need to have good written, oral and presentation skills – you will be communicating with internal and external customers daily and be a point of contact for the Planning Applications Group.  You will be able to work independently and also as part of a team and be able to work closely and constructively with others in the planning technical support role. You will already have knowledge and understanding of customer service expectations and have well developed customer service skills, and you will have experience of receiving and handling information and be able to deal with information in a variety of formats and from various sources. You will also have experience of computerised administration and document filing systems and of working in a Local Government environment (or similar related experience) in a technical support function.

You will be educated to GCSE level or equivalent. You will be able to demonstrate a commitment and capacity to learn in new areas of work in this role. It is essential that you have a methodical approach to work and an emphasis on accuracy and attention to detail, along with an ability to plan, prioritise and organise a diverse workload and work under pressure to meet deadlines and to be flexible when required. You will already have excellent ICT and computer skills including in using Microsoft office software such as Word, Teams and Outlook, and you will have the ability to use Adobe software to create, convert, redact and produce documents. You will be able to plot information accurately on a map using GIS and be able to learn and become proficient in using planning and planning related ICT software such as Mastergov.

Whilst post is based at Invicta House in Maidstone, the Planning Technical Support Team and the Planning Applications Group work in a hybrid style - a mix of working arrangements with opportunities to work flexibly by agreement including from Invicta House and working from home. You can expect to be at Invicta House on a regular weekly basis and for at least 50% of your time, particularly whilst you are learning new skills and when the nature of the work requires work activities to be carried out at Invicta House. We can offer a variety of working patterns and flexible working hours. Work that works for you and us – let’s talk flexibility!

The post is considered by KCC to be in a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act(2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Please refer to the job description/person specification, which is viewable on the Kent County Council website as this will be used to shortlist applications. When making your application please use the reason for applying section of the application form to include your reason for applying and to describe how you meet the requirements of the role as outlined in the job description and person specification. Please also submit a covering letter and a copy of your up to date CV with your application.

Contact Details

For further information please contact Richard Bore, Team Leader Planning Technical Support Team 03000 413337 or Sharon Thompson, Head of Planning Applications Group 03000 413468.

About the Company

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.