Principal Planning Officer

Salary: £32,947-£39,105 p.a. (£37,889-£44,971 including 15% market supplement reviewed annually)

Permanent full time, 37 hours per week

Overview of Greater Cambridge:

It’s an exciting time for built environment professionals working in the Greater Cambridge area.  With a combined population of over 285,000, covering 364 square miles, our planning services receive over 3000 applications a year and generate an income of £4 million. Greater Cambridge, comprising Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils, is one of the fastest growing areas in the UK for growth and is recognised as an outstanding place to live, work and visit. Our planning services are therefore in high demand.

The historic City of Cambridge is home to world renowned universities, hospitals and cutting edge science and research business parks that extend into the beautiful villages and countryside surrounding the City. Our combined growth agenda includes a range of new settlements within South Cambridgeshire and urban extensions to Cambridge as well as areas of major change and opportunity areas across the Greater Cambridge area. Our next Local Plan will be a joint one and there are a number of demanding strategic policy issues that we will need to address.

Quality, professionalism and commitment are the key drivers of the services we offer to enhance the quality of life of local residents and visitors to Greater Cambridge. In order to maintain high standards we need to have a diverse workforce who are highly competent and skilled, whose main focus is ensuring the services we offer meet the aspirations and needs of our local community. In return as part of our team you will face an unrivalled range of opportunities and gain a vast amount of experience that will benefit your career.

To help us respond to both the level of demand that we have for our services and to deliver the pace of change and level of growth that we are planning for, we need to build on our resources by recruiting a range of built environment professionals. We have a variety of roles to offer the right candidates including planners (development management, strategic sites and planning policy), urban design and conservation,.  Roles are available within both local authorities who are moving towards creation of a joint planning service.

These roles will be both rewarding and interesting.  Essential skills and experience requirements for each role are set out in the individual job profiles.

If you are seeking an exciting career opportunity in an area at the cutting edge of Planning, we would like to hear from you.

Benefits include; Flexible working, Pension scheme, Annual leave – with the option to buy additional leave, Childcare Vouchers, Staff Discounts – Perkz and discounted gym membership, Get fit/Keep fit, Salary sacrifice cycle purchase scheme and Relocation Package

Main purpose of the job;

As Principal Planning Officer it would be your responsibility to ensure all major growth sites and a range strategic planning applications are developed in accordance with national policy, the Development Plans and local government strategies.

You will be providing professional advice regarding a range of strategic planning matters associated with development control and new communities including pre-application enquiries/ planning performance agreements.  

You will work in partnership, and as part of joint planning arrangements, with other agencies and developers to deliver quality sustainable communities.

For an informal chat about this role please contact Sharon Brown, Assistant Director at Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils on 01223 457294.

Closing date: 9am on Monday 23 July 2018     

Interviews will be held on 30 July 2018