At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a skilled planning team and deliver top-notch enforcement services.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking council dedicated to community and stakeholder engagement.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for site visits and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in planning enforcement and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 54495 - 58809 £ per year.
Address: East Suffolk House, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1RT and Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ
Salary: £54,495 - £58,809 per annum, Salary band 10
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Role Overview: Develop and manage a skilled planning team, deliver an effective, responsive enforcement service, ensure compliance with statutory planning powers and responsibilities, and maintain a positive experience for customers, communities, and stakeholders.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage a team delivering a high-quality planning enforcement service.
- Allocate workloads, monitor performance, and meet performance targets.
- Oversee complex enforcement cases, authorise enforcement actions and notices, and ensure decisions comply with planning law, policy and guidance.
- Represent the council at appeals, hearings, inquiries and court proceedings.
- Prepare evidence for appeals and present reports to the Planning Committee.
- Mentor and support staff development through training and coaching.
- Collaborate with senior colleagues to set priorities and drive service delivery.
- Identify efficiencies and digital solutions to support continuous improvement.
- Support the Planning Manager where required to ensure continuity of service delivery.
- Ensure consistent application of regulations and high standards of governance, compliance and professional practice.
Qualifications:
- Significant post-qualification experience in development management and enforcement.
- Strong working knowledge of planning law, policy and processes.
- Experience handling enforcement issues and appeals, and a solid understanding of relevant IT systems used within planning services.
- A recognised degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline.
- Chartered Membership of the RTPI (The Royal Town Planning Institute) or near completion of accreditation.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality reports, legal statements and present evidence at hearings or committee meetings.
- Confident negotiation and influencing skills.
- Leadership and people skills to motivate, support and develop staff.
- Capacity to manage workloads, meet deadlines, operate effectively under pressure and maintain high standards of governance.
- Adaptability, flexibility, customer-focus, discretion in sensitive situations.
- Travel within the district and conduct site visits and inspections safely.
Benefits: Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service).
Principal Enforcement Officer in Lowestoft employer: East Suffolk Council
As a Principal Enforcement Officer with us, you will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality planning enforcement services in the beautiful East Suffolk area. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee development through mentoring and training opportunities, alongside a generous leave entitlement and a commitment to work-life balance. Join us to make a meaningful impact in your community while enjoying the benefits of working in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.
