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SENIOR PLANNING OFFICER (MAJOR PROJECTS)

Employer
Maidstone Borough Council
Location
Maidstone, Kent
Salary
Career Grade 10 – 11 £34,415 - £40,717 + Car Allowance + Market Supplement (subject to qualification
Closing date
30 May 2022

DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

 

Pride in our Borough: A Borough that works for everyone

Despite facing significant pressures in terms of one of the County’s highest housing targets, Maidstone Council’s Development Management Service tops the performance tables in Kent and has a very strong track record in terms of delivery.

The Major Projects team is a small team within the wider Development Management service which focusses upon larger scale developments, complex urban regeneration sites and supporting corporate projects and providing support to the wider planning service.

As a Senior Planning Officer you will have the opportunity to become involved in varied and challenging casework focussing on larger housing and commercial applications, as well as providing support to both colleagues in other departments and Elected Members to deliver the Council’s strategic priorities. 

Ideally you will have experience of not only managing a casework of challenging planning applications, but have also been involved in screening/scoping/reviewing EIA’s, negotiating s106 agreements and presenting at Committees.  Experience of informal hearings and potentially inquiry appeal work is also preferable.

As part of your role you should expect to have regular contacts with Councillors, Parish Council’s and other community groups seeking to engage in the planning process and as such you will be expected to call upon good communication, project management and negotiation skills. 

At Maidstone Borough Council, we have great ambitions for our County Town and the wider Borough. The economic development and regeneration of the Town Centre is a high priority, whilst also ensuring that we deliver spatial growth in a sustainable manner, protect key landscape and heritage assets and ensure that the character and sustainability of villages is protected.  We are currently in the process of reviewing the Local Plan to deliver growth to 2031, with exciting projects including town centre regeneration sites and two garden communities.

Working in a Borough that faces a diverse and unique range of Planning challenges and opportunities, we are looking for a talented, self-motivated and enthusiastic Senior Planner for the team who can really make an impact. 

The successful candidate will preferably have a degree or equivalent in Town and Country Planning, and have Membership of the RTPI, alongside experience of dealing with both larger and complex planning applications and appeals. As well as more experienced Senior Planning Officers, we would welcome interest from ambitious talented planners looking to develop their career, but in either case you can expect to hit the ground running but be offered support from team members.

Working in Maidstone you’ll also be less than an hour from London by train and have all that Kent can offer at your fingertips. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop your skills and experience within an organisation that prides itself on supporting its staff. We encourage staff to undertake vocational and technical training, including management and leadership programmes.  In addition to learning & development, we also offer many flexible working opportunities, including job share, flexi time, nine-day fortnight, compressed hours and of course home working.

The Major Projects team is currently based in Maidstone House, but candidates can opt for office-based work or make use of extensive home working practices, for which technical and equipment support is offered.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the post and are ready for a new and exciting challenge in a progressive ambitious Local Authority, then we’d like to hear from you.

The Council considers that all roles should be able to communicate clearly and concisely.

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

This is a full time position on a permanent contract.

For further information or to discuss this opportunity in more detail, please contact Austin Mackie, Major Projects Manager on 01622 602551 or austinmackie@Maidstone.gov.uk

Closing Date:  30th  May 2022

Interview Date: TBC

Council Benefits:  career average pension scheme, professional fee payment, flexible working (including balanced office / home working and job share), employee benefits package and generous leave entitlement

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