Principal Development Management Officer in Huntingdon

You will be acting as case officer for a range of major applications, working with colleagues across technical specialisms and with external consultees including community representatives to understand, communicate, negotiate and make recommendations on the applications within your caseload. This interesting and varied work includes committee presentations as well as assembling and presenting the Council’s position at pre-application and, potentially, appeal stages. You will be adept at identifying, assessing and balancing material considerations to reach an informed and balanced recommendation on each application.

We are looking for a pro-active and flexible team player with an attention to detail and a can-do attitude, to work within a solution-focused project-based environment. The major planning applications and other PPA-supported schemes submitted in Huntingdonshire are varied. You will be the main point of contact for applicants, interested parties, internal stakeholders, external consultees and adjoining Councils.

The role is wide-ranging and can include:

• liaising with a diverse range of people and organisations, on all levels of seniority
• organising and attending meetings with applicants, taking robust notes of discussions and proposing solutions that balance the often competing needs of a variety of stakeholders
• analysing large volumes of information against guidance and legislation
• attending site inspections, in-person meetings and other liaison events
• reviewing consultation responses and advising on an appropriate and robust approach for the Council to adopt on a range of material considerations
• assisting members of the public to understand and engage with an application
• preparing reports, including recommendations to members
• drafting letters and responding to emails
• ensuring the milestones in a range of PPAs are delivered
• deputising for the Team Leader (Strategic Team)
• signing off the recommendations of other Officers, including on complex applications

You should have an RTPI accredited degree in Town Planning or related discipline and either be a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) or eligible for this. Strong project management skills are essential and experience of leading complex planning projects from inception to decision is desirable. A positive, solution-focussed approach to delivering sustainable development is essential. You will need to demonstrate your ability to co-ordinate multi-disciplinary teams, manage competing deadlines, and ensure delivery of high-quality outputs. You will have excellent understanding of UK planning legislation and policy, including the Planning Act 2008, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, and Localism Act.

Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills are required to successfully deliver this role, including working with local communities, developers, legal advisors, and statutory consultees. Understanding sometimes competing interests and positions is essential, as is an ability to balance differing priorities and clearly explain (in both written and verbal form) how those priorities interact when assessing the planning balance. The successful candidate will have demonstrable expertise in critical assessment. Experience of taking part at public inquiry is desirable though not essential, as is experience with Planning Performance Agreements, using project tracking tools and digital planning systems.

You will be accomplished in presenting applications to committee members and answering their questions, to support robust and properly-informed committee decisions. You will be competent in reviewing and analysing recommendations made by colleagues on their caseload applications, signing-off both delegated decisions and committee recommendations. You should have a full clean driving licence.

This post does not require a DBS check or a drug and alcohol test on appointment. An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. HDC does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.

To apply for this position, please complete the application form. When applying, please send us a copy of a recent Officer’s Report that showcases your experience in dealing with a complex, contentious or major planning application. The closing date is 9am on 5 December 2025 and interviews will be held on 11 and 12 December. However, this is a rolling campaign and we’ll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and will close the advert early should we receive suitable applications, so please don’t delay in applying!

For many of our roles (and where it is possible) we are currently working remotely and anticipate in the future returning to a hybrid office model on a flexible basis. This will still include work from home and flexi-time opportunities in order to provide a good work life balance whilst still ensuring that teams benefit from in-person interaction. Candidates should therefore be within commutable distance of our offices in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire or able to attend meetings as required if further afield. Office presence twice a week is expected.

Should you have any additional questions regarding submitting an application, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.