Assistant Planner to Principal Planner (Energy Projects)

• East Suffolk Council – Lowestoft NR33 0EQ or Melton, Suffolk IP12 1RT
• £30,559 – £51,802 per annum (career grade) plus car allowance
• 37 hours per week
• Permanent

We are seeking to appoint Planners (at the appropriate career grade level) in the Energy Projects Team at East Suffolk Council.

East Suffolk is home to lots of energy infrastructure projects at various stages of the planning process, from pre-application, consenting, to delivery on the ground. These include Sizewell C new nuclear power station, multiple offshore wind projects, and grid reinforcement projects. It is the role of the Energy Projects team to engage with these projects to minimise their disbenefit, maximise the benefits of the projects, and deliver the best outcomes we can for East Suffolk. We are looking for a planner to help us do that.

It\’s still town planning, just bigger. If you\’re interested in working at the forefront of the UK\’s Net Zero transition across a range of energy projects in East Suffolk, we\’d love to hear from you.

About the role

Working on large scale projects often means each week looks different. You\’ll get to know the projects and will be involved across a range of topic areas, with your workload evolving as the projects progress.

You will be:

• Attending meetings with internal technical officers, project developers, and key stakeholders
• Working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including elected members, town and parish councils, non-governmental bodies, environmental bodies, and communities
• Determining planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA)
• Attending site visits/opportunities for working elsewhere, including attending forums and working groups around the district
• Dependent on experience, preparing presentations and briefing notes for use by officers and elected members and/or leading on their delivery
• Dependent on experience either assisting senior members of the team or leading on development consent and TCPA work; Environmental Impact Assessment screening and scoping opinions, planning applications, and writing submissions for consultations
• During NSIP examinations, depending on experience, assisting or leading on the council\’s submissions including responses to requests for information and providing evidence at hearings
• Assisting or leading on the negotiation of legal agreements
• At Senior Planner level providing mentoring for less experienced members of the team, at Principal Planner level having management responsibilities.

You will have:

• Interest in renewable energy generation, large scale projects, and a willingness to jump into new areas of planning
• Strong interpersonal skills for building and maintaining effective working relationships with stakeholders, including clear written and oral communication skills and confidence in engaging with stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to digest and understand complex information and respond to it
• A commitment to quality output and outcomes
• An awareness of the Development Consent Order regime for NSIPs, and the Town and Country Planning Act.

We can offer you: Career progression and development

The current vacancy provides the opportunity to progress with support from an Assistant Planner all the way through to a Principal Planner – subject to gaining the necessary qualifications and experience. Successful candidates would be placed at an appropriate position on the career grade path reflective of their current qualifications and experience.

The Assistant Planner role provides an opportunity for you to attain a planning post-graduate qualification providing access to progress to Planner level and to become a full member of the RTPI.

If you have a first degree in geography, social sciences, or a related subject (other disciplines will also often be considered) this is an exciting opportunity to take forward your existing knowledge, skills, and interests and embark on a career as a planner. For appointment as Planner, with a recognised qualification (to degree level or equivalent) in related discipline, as well as experience of working in planning in either the public or private sector, you will have knowledge of current planning working practices, development design, planning law, and regulations.

For the Senior Planner and Principal Planner positions the post holder requires full MRTPI membership, greater knowledge, and experience and there will be a requirement to either provide mentoring or management responsibilities dependent on the post. These posts also provide the exciting opportunity to lead on behalf of the council on NSIPs.

The career grade system provides a clear path to progression in post. This is a great time to build a career as a planner working in the energy infrastructure consenting sphere, at a local authority uniquely positioned at the heart of the Net Zero transition.

We\’re supportive of continuing professional development, including supporting you finding training courses to develop your planning knowledge and keep you up to date on NSIP best practice.

To find out more

If you think you might have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don\’t meet all of the essential requirements, we want to hear from you and look forward to having the opportunity to consider your application.

If you\’d like more information or a conversation about this post, please reach out to Bethany Rance, Senior Planner, Energy Projects by emailing or calling 01394 444543 .

Closing date: 1pm, 20 March 2025

Interview date: Week commencing, 31 March 2025

How to apply

Step 1 – Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification

Step 2 – Complete the Supporting Statement template (docx) . Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).

Step 3 – Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.

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