Development Management Officer

To support Be First’s vision by providing a consistently high quality, cost effective, solution-led and customer focused Statutory Development Management Planning service.

Job Context:

• The post holder reports to a Principal Development Management Officer, Development Management Team Leader and Head of Statutory Services.
• The post holder has no line management responsibility.
• The post holder may be required to work some evenings and undertake site visits, to meet service requirements.
• The post holder has no budget responsibility.
• The post holder may be expected to work across the Planning, Transport and Policy Planning functions.
• The post holder will work flexibly and work as an effective team member.

Job Salary: £34,000 - £40,000 up to 10% pension contribution and 30 days annual leave

Closing Date: February 27, 2026

Key Tasks and Accountabilities:

• To contribute towards the implementation of a working culture that is result-orientated, customer-focused and an ethos of ‘right first time’ service delivery.
• To undertake all duties with minimal supervision.
• To be responsible for continuous personal development by requesting and attending training when necessary.
• To demonstrate a strong commitment to the protection and promotion of equal opportunities.
• To provide high quality planning services to external and internal customers and stakeholders, meeting evolving delivery priorities, issues and challenges to agreed standards.
• Undertake a full range of operational business tasks a portfolio of projects which may be within some or all of the planning functions.
• To assist with all statutory Development Management and Spatial Planning work.
• To make high quality planning assessments drawn from a spatial policy basis having regard to the Local Plan, Regional Plans and the NPPF.
• To draft Delegated Reports, Committee reports, pre-application responses, briefing notes, evidence, discussion papers, etc., on Development Management and Spatial Planning matters.
• To prepare and present evidence for planning appeals, compulsory purchase orders, and spatial planning matters.
• To liaise with a wide range of public and private bodies in order to provide the planning input to projects securing the redevelopment or improvement of land in the Borough.
• To work on conservation, listed building, ecological and tree preservation matters, and the processing of applications for works to trees.
• To provide technical and procedural advice and problem-solving to the public on site, in meetings, by phone or correspondence in circumstances that can be confrontational and would require an immediate response.

Person Specification:

• Educated to post-graduate degree level with an RTPI accredited or related degree or ability to gain entry to course leading to professional qualification.
• A working knowledge of planning legislation and related guidance.
• A knowledge of the statutory planning function of a local authority.
• Experience of case managing Development Management work.
• Experience of providing high quality advice to Councillors and other stakeholders.
• IT literate with experience of using Word, PowerPoint and other software packages to record and manage data.
• A proven record or experience of communicating in person, by telephone and in writing in a calm, courteous and confident professional manner.
• Demonstrable understanding of the equality and diversity agenda, and experience of embedding a fair and ethical approach within a team and wider organisation.

• Able to work successfully in teams.
• Creative and innovative in solving complex problems.
• Able to think and work proactively, “self-start” and work autonomously with the minimum of direct supervision.
• Scrupulous attention to detail, particularly with regard to technical aspects of operational processes and practices, accuracy of records and reports, efficiency and accuracy around schedule and diary management.
• At ease in the presence of company directors, senior client representatives and able to command a sense of personal professional gravitas without being overbearing.
• Have a corporate approach to managing their areas of responsibility, seeing the bigger picture, supporting fellow executives and board members in meeting their objectives.
• Able to work under pressure, organise and prioritise own work and that of others, ensuring agreed programmes and project requirements are met and customer demands accommodated.
• Strong influencing and persuasion skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong reporting writing and communications skills, abilities to modify communication style and approach to meet the needs of a diverse range of stakeholder groups.
• Ability to prioritise under pressure.

How to Apply:

Please email an up-to-date CV with a covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) setting out why you are interested in the role and why you believe yourself to be qualified to the following address: BFHR@befirst.london