Malvern Hills District Council is a forward-thinking, proactive and successful Local Planning Authority situated in accessible, exceptionally attractive countryside within South Worcestershire. We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed Senior Planning Officer who would thrive on the challenge of managing a varied caseload of planning applications and appeals and contribute to the work of our effective and well respected team.

We share a Chief Executive and a joint senior management team with Wychavon District Council. Both councils remain independent organisations with their own political structures and district identities, but joint working arrangements allow us to work efficiently and maximise opportunities to achieve efficiencies, maintain resilience and deliver a high quality service to our customers.

We are looking to recruit, develop and retain the very best talent we can find. That's why, as well as a satisfying job, we offer a range of attractive benefits including flexible working arrangements, generous holiday entitlements, a local government pension scheme, plenty of opportunities for personal development and discounted gym membership.

Senior Planning Officer
37 hours per week - £32,233 - £36,153 pro rata per annum
Fixed term contract to November 2019

HELP SHAPE OUR VISION FOR MALVERN HILLS DISTRICT

The Malvern Hills District is already an amazing place, a place of unique history and exceptional landscape quality, yet also a place of significant opportunity. We want the District to be somewhere everyone thrives.  Delivering on the area’s growth potential is critical to that vision.  As a Senior Planning Officer you will play a key role in shaping the District, balancing our strong emphasis on growth with the need to conserve and enhance our rich natural and built heritage.

About the role -                                                                    

Great planning and development is vital to our vision for the District. We need a customer focused, creative and proactive Senior Planning Officer to help catalyse growth and create a real sense of place.

The successful candidate will need to be confident in their own ability and have a good understanding of current planning legislation. Good communication skills and an ability to engage with a range of stakeholders is essential. You will process and assess a caseload of varied planning applications, preparing reports, dealing with appeals and general correspondence and provide pre-application advice on the telephone, by email and face to face.  You will be in regular contact with applicants, agents, members of the public and other users of the service and must be committed to delivering an outstanding service to all our customers.

About you -

For the role of Senior Planning Officer you will ideally have experience of dealing with major category planning applications, complex appeals and have a strong track record of negotiating S106 legal agreements and securing high quality design. You will have full Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) membership and be able to demonstrate a commitment to continual professional development (CPD).

• Significant development control experience in urban and rural issues
• Full RTPI Membership
• Recognised qualification in Town Planning
• Educated to Degree level
• Full driving licence and access to transport
• Availability to attend evening Committee meetings
• Ability to undertake site visits to remote rural locations

• Informal Hearings and Public Inquiries
• Managing a caseload of complex/contentious planning applications
• Comprehensive and up to date knowledge of planning law and practice
• Good computer literacy with property database and GIS systems

If you would like to find out more about this position, please call Duncan Rudge (Development Control Manager) on 01684 862318.

Closing Date: 27^th January 2019

Interview Date: 7^th February 2019