Principal Planning Officer - Planning Policy

Role Responsibility

We have an opportunity for an experienced Policy Planner to further develop their career in plan making within a County Planning Authority and contribute to the delivery of sustainable development across the County.

In the role you will lead, supervise, line manage and coach staff in a small minerals and waste local plan team and manage work undertaken by consultants and suppliers in order to provide an effective minerals and waste planning policy service for the County Council ensuring a balance between the needs of development and wider environmental concerns.

You will provide expert professional planning policy and plan making advice relating to minerals and waste development and prepare, present and oversee consultation and Examination in Public processes and Public Inquiry documentation in relation to mineral and waste planning policy. You will develop and promote the position of the County Council in relation to minerals and waste policy planning matters and ensure consistent application of development plan policy in relation to safeguarding reserves and infrastructure.

You will need to hold a relevant degree or equivalent in planning or a similar related environmental or legal discipline and hold or be eligible for Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. You will have varied experience of development plan policy making and have a thorough understanding of the responsibilities of the County Council in the Plan making process and the contribution of plan making to sustainable development. You will have a thorough understanding of current and emerging planning policy legislation and guidance. You will have experience as an expert witness in Examination in Public and in responding to challenge and political awareness within the planning policy role.

You will visit sites in Kent where the physical environment may present challenges such as uneven ground surfaces in a range of weather conditions, including at construction, quarry, landfill, and waste sites. Driving is intrinsic to much of the work and therefore a full UK Driving Licence is required - The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

We can offer hybrid working with opportunities to work flexibly from the administrative office base, and by agreement from other remote working locations.  We can offer a variety of working patterns. 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 as this will be used to shortlist applications.

Contact Details

For further information, please contact 

Sharon Thompson, Head of Planning Applications Group 03000 413468 Sharon.Thompson@kent.gov.uk

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.