Planning Officer - ARB16343

Service: Development Management

Closing Date: Friday 11th July 2025

We would love to welcome a Planning Officer to join our friendly team in working for Argyll and Bute. Let us tell you about why this could be a great move for you.

Argyll and Bute is one of Scotland\’s most stunning areas. As its award-winning council, we play a vital part in the day-to-day life and long-term future of our beautiful and diverse communities. Our unwavering purpose is to make Argyll and Bute the place to be, the place where people want to live, to work and do business. And we are committed to making the council the place to have a great career, by providing excellent benefits and a friendly, dynamic working culture so that each of our 5000 colleagues can deliver services that help our corner of Scotland thrive. Join us to make a difference.

The successful candidate would be a key member of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area Development Management Team. The postholder will be based in Lochgilphead with a requirement to undertake site visits across the South West of Argyll and the Islands of Islay, Colonsay, Jura and Gigha. Hybrid working arrangements may also be suitable. The post holder\’s duties will include the assessment and determination of planning and related applications, responding to pre-application enquiries, the preparation of written correspondence and reports, communication and engagement with a variety of stakeholders, to assist in the monitoring and discharge of planning conditions and assisting in the presentation of planning items at committee.

Candidates must hold a relevant degree in Town and Country Planning (or similar) and hold (or be eligible for) chartered membership of Royal Town Planning Institute. The role would suit a planning professional who has a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience and knowledge and understanding of the Development Management process. Previous experience of working in a public sector role and/or rural planning matters would be beneficial. Candidates must be customer focused, have sound negation skills and solution driven. Applicants will be required to travel efficiently and effectively within remote/rural areas and would therefore suit someone who holds a valid UK driving license.

Our employees make good things happen in the day-to-day life and for the longer term future of Argyll and Bute. We want you to feel valued working for us. We offer various benefits to support you, such as a competitive salary, pension scheme, generous leave entitlement, cycle to work scheme, discounts on gym memberships and leisure centres, wellbeing initiatives, and opportunities for learning and career growth. We also embrace a modern approach to work, offering a flexible first approach where possible to requests from our employees to how they work. Plus include any benefits unique to role.

We care about our people and the world around us and always aim to do the right thing. From employee recognition schemes to environmental policies we have many initiatives in place to help us look after the things we all care about.

Learn more here Argyll and Bute Employee Recognition Programme, Disability Confident, Armed Forces, Fair Work First Statement, Equality and Fairness, Climate Change, Flexible and Hybrid Working Policy .

Argyll and Bute Council recognises the numerous benefits of a positive work-life balance to the wellbeing and productivity of our employees. We will take a flexible first approach to requests from our employees to change the way that they work. While we must balance such requests with the need to ensure thequality of the important services we deliver are not compromised, we will ensure that each request is given careful consideration with a view to achieving a positive outcome wherever possible.

This is a temporary post until 31st August 2026 or if earlier the return of the post holder.

Applicants should note that:-

• Happy to talk about flexible working arrangements.
• This is a temporary post which may be filled on a secondment basis by an employee wishing to gain experience/career development and will be at the discretion of the employee\’s Third Tier Manager. If you wish to apply for this post as a secondment, please refer to the secondment guidance.

To apply for this vacancy, please click on the Apply Now button at the top of this page. If you would like clarification on any information contained within the vacancy advert and/or the job description please contact the recruiting manager, who is:

Name: Bryn Bowker, Area Team Leader

Email: bryn.bowker@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Telephone: 01546 604076

Please note that you cannot apply for this vacancy by contacting the recruiting manager, applications must be made by clicking on the Apply Now button at the top of this page. Please also note that we do not accept CVs, only applications completed and submitted via the Apply Now button on this page. We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about our commitment to this please visit Equality and Diversity Policy

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