Principal Planning Officer (Permanent) - Ref: EE06324
Salary: G10: £42,403 - £47,420 per annum (pay award pending)

This is an exciting time to join a multi award-winning council and a high-performing planning team at a time when many significant programmes are coming to life in Walsall. Walsall Council have secured an additional £74million of external funding to deliver the Levelling Up, Future High Street and Walsall and Bloxwich Town Deal programmes.

As a principal planning officer you will support these regeneration programmes, and other significant development proposals across Walsall. We are looking for an experienced planning officer to help shape these through effective pre-application advice, and service any resulting planning application submissions through to determination.

If you are an experienced planning officer who is looking to make a difference, please contact Group Manager Gemma Meaton to find out more on gemma.meaton@walsall.gov.uk or 01922 650911.

For information about our wide range of projects and programmes, and to see our latest updates, visit the Walsall Council website: Regeneration and investment | Walsall Council

Welcome to Walsall

Walsall is a regional town with a rich history and a bright future with potential to deliver significant development and investment projects and is working in collaboration with the West Midlands Combined Authority and other public partners to deliver regeneration projects. Now is the time to join our highly motivated, friendly and valued Planning & Building Control teams and help to deliver excellent value to our customers.

The role includes:

• Providing advice in respect of planning and enforcement law, policy and guidance
• To work effectively under pressure to observe deadlines and work independently and as part of a team
• Prepare and present the Council’s case at relevant appeal procedures including public inquiries
• Deal with a varied caseload of planning work
• Assisting the Team Leader to review and sign off reports for other members of the team

About you:

• You will need to be a qualified Town Planner and have a full driving license and access to a vehicle for carrying out site visits
• Demonstrate excellent IT skills especially the use of MS Office
• You must be able to demonstrate significant development management experience
• Have excellent communication and customer service skills

We are committed to attracting and retaining the very best staff and utilising all the talent and experience available. As such, we recognise the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements that enable them to balance their working life with other priorities.

What Benefits can we offer?

• Flexible working hours
• Blended working from home/office
• Car mileage allowance
• Support for employee learning and career development.
• Membership of Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous annual leave and flexi leave entitlement plus Bank Holidays

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.

View Job Description and Employee Specification

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

Closing Date for applications: 18th October 2024.

Interviews will be held on 24th and 25th October.

You will be also be expected to meet the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty. The post is politically restricted.