If you are a high calibre planning professional with experience of creating and developing policies, this is a brilliant opportunity to help protect and promote the quality of life of the residents of North Hertfordshire. 

About Us

North Hertfordshire is a large rural district with approximately 125,000 residents with four historic towns - Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and Letchworth Garden City. We have a clear vision for the area: to make North Hertfordshire a vibrant place for people to live, work and prosper.

We are looking for an experienced Principal Strategic Planning Officer to join us and lead the implementation of our emerging Local Plan and address the challenges of future growth. 

The Benefits

- Salary starting from £40,716 per annum
- Local Government Pension Scheme (18% employer contribution)
- Generous annual leave, including Christmas close down period
- Occupational sick pay
- Free car parking
- Discounts, including 50% off gym membership
- Flexible working options including flexi scheme and home working

This is an exciting opportunity to help deliver sustainable growth and influence strategic planning matters across North Hertfordshire and beyond. 

North Hertfordshire District Council is a great place in which to progress your career. We have a strong focus on learning, growth and development and will reimburse professional subscriptions and support you to undertake vocational study. 

You’ll be encouraged to make a real impact and drive forward processes, best practice and thinking to ensure that we deliver a comprehensive service to the people in our community. 

What’s more, we promote a healthy work/life balance and are committed to ensuring that our staff feel valued and recognised for their efforts. 

The Role 

As the Principal Strategic Planning Officer, you will help to drive planning activity in North Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas. 

Specifically, you’ll take a leading role in delivering the strategic allocations in our Local Plan, manage complex relationships with surrounding authorities and progress the long-term planning of the District. 

Working as part of the Strategic Planning and Enterprise team, you will: 

- Create and deliver policies, proposals and projects 
- Oversee the professional development of identified planning policies and their interpretation within the Town and Country Planning Acts
- Manage the delivery of the Supplementary Planning Documents and other relevant guidance
- Supervise and mentor staff
- Prepare reports and make presentations to Members and Committees

About You 

To join us as a Principal Strategic Planning Officer, you will need: 

- Extensive post-qualification experience in planning policy and/or development control 
- Experience of creating and developing policies 
- Previous experience of managing complex projects 
- Experience of attending appeal hearings and/or public examinations 
- A track record of positively influencing outcomes through liaison and negotiations
- Experience of actively participating in, and managing, a local plan review 
- Previous experience of operating at a strategic level to achieve political aspirations
- A degree or diploma in Town & Country Planning that’s recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
- Full membership of the RTPI, or the ability to gain this  

Other organisations may call this role Senior Planner, Principal Planner, Lead Planning Officer, Principal Development Officer, Planning Development Officer, Senior Town Planning Officer, or Senior Town Planner. 

The closing date for applications is the 27th July 2020. Interviews will be held remotely on the 7th or 10th August 2020.

Please note that we do not accept CV applications, either on their own or accompanying application forms. Therefore, please ensure that all relevant information is provided on the application form.

As a Council committed to equality and diversity, we welcome applications from all sections of the community. Disabled people who meet the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.

Successful applicants will require a DBS background check.

This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency. 

Working hours: 37 hours per week with occasional evening work