Section 106 Monitoring / Assistant Planning Officer

£26,337 – £28,446 per annum

Do you have a passion for the built environment? Do you want to help shape your surroundings? Would you like to work in a fast-paced role with decision making responsibilities? 

We are looking for a Section 106 Monitoring / Assistant Planning Officer to support the Council’s delivery of the Development Management service. This is an exciting role for someone who sees Town Planning, and becoming an RTPI Chartered Town Planner, if you aren’t one already, as a career choice, and who is willing to work hard, including undertaking further qualifications, to ensure that your career goals are achieved.

The role is split into two parts, the first involves helping to monitor and administer the financial and non-financial obligations secured through the granting of planning permission via S106 legal agreements in the Mendip district which will enable us to bring forward projects to support the future growth of the district, ranging from transport infrastructure through to schools, hospitals and open space.

The second part involves dealing with, and making recommendations on planning applications. While at the start you will be dealing with householder and other small scale planning applications, as you progress, gain confidence and broaden your skills we will give you the chance to deal with larger or more complicated applications such as Lawful Development Certificates, Prior Notifications and other proposals that are commensurate with the role.

Ideally you will have a background in planning, legal or finance, either through work experience or by qualification and are now looking to specialise within the planning field. The role requires someone who is very organised, has an eye for detail and numbers and has the skills to scrutinise and interpret S106 legal agreements and financial information. 

This is a fabulous opportunity to take a first or second step into a Town Planning career where we will provide you with a firm grounding level of knowledge, skills and confidence to progress up the career ladder.

In return we will provide a friendly working environment with the potential for further training to Masters level in Town Planning or a related discipline. Furthermore, this role will provide you with valuable experience of working within a multi-disciplinary Development Management Team where you will have the responsibility of managing your own workload of applications, visiting sites and writing reports to explain and justify your recommendations as well as supporting the effective implementation, monitoring and review of section 106 agreements (including the collection and draw down of funding) on behalf of the Planning Service. 

The council promotes a flexible working environment with mix of office and home working being encouraged. The importance of face-to-face team contact however is recognised and therefore your attendance in the office at times will be necessary.

Furthermore, for the right candidate, we are willing to consider part-time working or other flexible working arrangements such as compressed hours. 

Other benefits include:

• Generous annual leave - 24 days rising to 29 after 5 years continuous Local Government Service (plus Bank Holidays)
• Automatic enrolment into the generous Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible working 
• Free on-site parking 
• Payment of annual subscription to one professional body, such as RTPI (if applicable)
• Learning and Development, particularly training provided by the RTPI
• Free flu vaccination each year 
• Access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders 
• Cycle to Work Scheme 
• Additional leave purchase scheme 
• £5k relocation allowance (subject to conditions)

If you are forward thinking, ambitious, and keen to make a real difference and would like to join our team, we would be delighted to hear from you.

For more information and to apply pleaae click on the 'Apply Button'

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Rachel Tadman, Interim Head of Planning on (01749) 341510.