Senior Planning Service Officer in Milton Keynes

We’re recruiting a Senior Planning Service Officer to join our Planning service at Milton Keynes City Council. You’ll play a key role in shaping how Milton Keynes grows and develops. This role matters because the decisions you support will influence homes, neighbourhoods, infrastructure and the future of our city. You’ll work across the whole Planning service, responding flexibly to demand and helping deliver our corporate and service priorities. You’ll provide clear, professional planning advice to councillors, colleagues, developers, residents and partners. Alongside experienced colleagues, you’ll help ensure development contributes positively to Milton Keynes as a great place to live and work. This role may be suitable for home working, following an assessment. Home‑based roles require a minimum of one day per week working from the office or site. We offer two full‑time opportunities: one permanent position and one 2‑year fixed‑term contract.

Main Responsibility

• Work flexibly across the Planning service which includes Heritage and Design, Development Management, and Development Plans to support corporate and service priorities.
• Assess minor and major planning applications and pre‑application enquiries in line with legislation and policy.
• Provide high‑quality professional planning advice to councillors, colleagues, developers, residents and statutory bodies.
• Represent the council at committees, public meetings, inquiries and hearings, including preparing and presenting statements.
• Contribute to planning policy work, development plan documents and public consultation activity.
• Support neighbourhood planning and community engagement across the city.

The Ideal Candidate

• A strong working knowledge of town planning legislation and planning policy.
• Direct experience in both Development Management and Development Plans, including handling planning applications, appeals, and developing planning policy.
• A degree in planning or a related subject, or equivalent experience, with progress towards Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute desirable.
• Experience managing complex planning cases, projects or work programmes.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• A flexible, organised and solution‑focused approach that reflects our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

Benefits

• Great holiday benefits – most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award‑winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low‑cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – eligible employees can access low‑cost leasing of electric and low‑emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card – employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.