Planning Policy Officer Ref: 65-24

Salary: Grade 8, £30,873 - £36,841 per annum (pay award pending) subject to Job Evaluation
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Place of Work: Dereham (remote-enabled)
Basis: Permanent

Would you like a job where what you do:

• Makes a difference to a large area for residents and business?
• Allows you to develop your skills and learn from others?
• Creates a lasting legacy which will impact generations to come?

Contribute to the update of the of the Council's Local Plan, a key document setting out the vision and growth strategy for the District, the production of individual documents within and informing the Local Plan to meet the milestones in the local development scheme. Supporting the production of Neighbourhood Development Plans throughout the production process including new designations for Neighbourhood Areas.

Planning and Development: We regulate the use of land in the public interest. Providing a framework for the delivery of sustainable homes and jobs for Breckland residents in the long term.

You will:

• Contribute to the update of the Council's Local Plan and to the production of individual documents within and informing the Local Plan to meet the milestones in the local development scheme;
• Support the preparation and review of studies or advisory services from external consultants;
• Supporting the production of Neighbourhood Development Plans throughout the production process including new designations for Neighbourhood Areas.
• Support the preparation and adoption/approval and implementation of other planning documents and plans - including strategies, action plans, planning briefs, supplementary guidance, proofs of evidence, press releases and consultation material;
• Undertake consultation processes on development plan and other documents in agreement with the Planning Policy Manager and/or the Director of Planning;
• Prepare reports to Committees, officer groups, public meetings / consultations and Inspectorate examinations; (This may require evening and / or weekend work)
• Provide support and advice to the development management team, on strategically important planning applications, enforcement and appeals

About you:

Collaborative

• I look for ways to work in partnership and listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge.
• I recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input.
• I recognise, appreciate and praise others for their contribution.

Ambitious

• I always ask myself 'How could we do this better?', taking ownership of change and helping others to understand, adapt, implement, and embed it.
• I have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things.
• My approach to work is filled with positivity and optimism.
• I am a proud ambassador, taking pride and responsibility for the work we do and encouraging others to do the same.

Results-driven

• I review my own performance and ask for feedback to learn and improve.
• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions.
• I am driven, showing courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan.
• I keep to my promises and challenge myself and others to deliver high-quality services.

Empowering

• I show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo - acting on opportunities to generate income or reduce costs, embracing new technology and promoting digitalisation.
• I ask for help and support when needed, and take responsibility if things don't go well, learning from it for my own and for the organisation's development.
• I appropriately challenge unacceptable behaviour.

Supportive

• I treat others as I would want to be treated myself, ensuring that I am welcoming, friendly and approachable.
• I care for my colleagues, take an interest in them, and show support for their personal identities and what's important to them.
• I understand and take care of my own wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of those around me.
• I give time to colleagues who need help or support.

OK, I'm interested...but is it really the job for me?

As our Planning Policy Officer you will:

You will have experience of working effectively in a team and demonstrable knowledge of the role that planning plays within local government.

The work that you will carry out will shape the future of development over each plan period, the Local Plan and related documents will be utilised and built on to meet the needs of the residents and the aspirations of the Council.

On a day-to-day basis your role will be varied and will progress as your experience grows. You will engage in face-to-face consultations with residents using good communication skills to answer questions on all topics and be a point of contact different aspects of the Local Plan and other related documents. You will author reports for committee, officer groups, consultations and a wide range of purposes. You will develop your knowledge to assist colleagues by providing excellent verbal and written advice.

You will have the opportunity to grow and develop in different areas working closely with the team to deliver an outstanding service. A willingness to work together and  demonstrable collaborative skills will be required as well as excellent organisational skills and a desire to deliver an optimal service.

Closing date: 17:00, Tuesday 29 April 2025

Job summary

Description of duties

Primary Functional Objectives of the Role

• Contribute to the update of the Council's Local Plan and to the production of individual documents within and informing the Local Plan to meet the milestones in the local development scheme;
• Support the preparation and review of studies or advisory services from external consultants;
• Supporting the production of Neighbourhood Development Plans throughout the production process including new designations for Neighbourhood Areas.
• Support the preparation and adoption/approval and implementation of other planning documents and plans - including strategies, action plans, planning briefs, supplementary guidance, proofs of evidence, press releases and consultation material;
• Undertake consultation processes on development plan and other documents in agreement with the Planning Policy Manager and/or the Head of Planning;
• Prepare reports to Committees, officer groups, public meetings / consultations and Inspectorate examinations; (This may require evening and / or weekend work)
• Provide support and advice to the development management team, on strategically important planning applications, enforcement and appeals;
• Updating the GIS system by creating and maintaining digital maps and databases.
• Such other duties as may, from time to time, be allocated appropriate to the grade and contributing to the purpose and objectives of the post.

Primary Leadership Objectives of the Role

• To ensure delivery of the Local Plan in line with the agreed Local Development Scheme
   

This job description is not an exhaustive range of tasks and responsibilities and is subject to the changing requirements of the Council.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Proven experience of working effectively in a team and working to common goals
• Experience of dealing with customers by phone, e-mail and face to face
• The ability to use your own initiative to solve challenges working as part of a team and under direction
• Good verbal and written communication skills with experience of preparing reports and presentations
• The ability to prioritise and proactively manage workloads working to key deadlines
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint, Access etc.)

Desirable

• Experience of working in planning in a public or private sector environment
• Experience of delivering Local Plan and related documents
• Knowledge of current planning legislation regulations and guidance relevant to planning policy
• The ability to consider a wide range of complex issues and balance those issues to make a clear and reasoned judgement
• Basic competency and experience using GIS

Qualifications

Essential      

• An undergraduate degree qualification (2:2 level or above) in town planning or a related subject such as Environmental Studies, Architecture, Urban Studies, Geography, Economics, Politics, Surveying.

Desirable

• Post graduate Town Planning qualification
• Membership of a relevant professional body

Essential Behaviours:

Collaborative:

• I recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input
• I look for ways to work in partnership and listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge.

Ambitious:

• I always ask myself, 'How could we do this better?', taking ownership of change and helping others to understand, adapt, implement, and embed it.
• I am a proud ambassador for the Council, taking pride and responsibility for the work we do and encouraging others to do the same
• I have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things

Results driven:

• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions
• I am driven, showing courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan

Empowering:

• I ask for help and support when needed, and take responsibility if things don't go well and learn from it for my own and for the organisation's development

Supportive:

• I treat others as I would want to be treated myself ensuring I am welcoming, friendly and approachable
• I give time to colleagues who need help or support

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

• The postholder is part of a small team and therefore the post holder needs to demonstrate ability to deal with frequent interruptions and demands on a daily basis.
• As an employee of Breckland Council you must comply with the Health & Safety policy and attend the compulsory Health & Safety training as and when requested.

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2024 staff survey to convince you..

• 94% said they feel trusted and empowered
• 90% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 89% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 94% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 91% said they felt supported by their manager

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays)
• Free car parking.
• Remote-enabled working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office. See what it is like working here by watching this short film: 
  

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role please Gemma Manthorpe, Planning Policy Manager by emailing gemma.manthorpe@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date - 17:00, Tuesday 29 April 2025

APPLY ONLINE

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce which reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies - these are listed as essential requirements on the person specification.