Local Planning Liaison Officer in Chelmsford

About the role

Local Planning Liaison Officer

Up to 18 months secondment / fixed term contract

36 hours per week

Location: Hanningfield, Chelmsford

Salary £38,505 - £45,300 (depending on experience)

As a Local Planning Liaison Officer, you will play an important role in supporting sustainable growth across our water supply areas while helping to protect our water assets and maintain excellent service for our customers. Working closely with local authorities, developers, planning consultants and colleagues from across the business, you will provide expert advice on planning applications and emerging development proposals, ensuring that growth can be accommodated without compromising our network performance or customer commitments.

In this role, you will review planning applications, local plans, and consultation requests, preparing clear, accurate, and timely responses that align with our policies and operational requirements. You will evaluate the potential impact of proposed developments on our water resource areas, ensuring that any risks and opportunities are appropriately identified and addressed.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders will be a key part of the role. You will act as a trusted point of contact for planning authorities, developers and consultants, providing guidance on water-related requirements and helping to find practical solutions that support development while safeguarding our assets and services.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working collaboratively, influencing decisions and contributing to long-term planning. You will play a vital role in shaping future development across our region, ensuring that growth is supported in a responsible and sustainable way for both our customers and communities.

About you

We're looking for a proactive and solutions-focused planning professional who is passionate about helping shape sustainable development and delivering positive outcomes for customers, communities and the environment.

You may already hold a degree in Town Planning, Geography, Environmental Management, Sustainability, Urban Planning, or a related discipline, but this isn't essential. We also welcome applications from individuals with relevant experience within the water industry who can demonstrate a solid understanding of the planning process, stakeholder management and development-related challenges.

You'll have a good understanding of planning law, policy and practice, or the ability to apply your water industry knowledge to planning and development matters. You should be confident managing your own workload, balancing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Strong communication and relationship-building skills are key to success in this role. You'll work closely with local authorities, developers, consultants and colleagues across the business, so you'll need the ability to build credibility, influence outcomes and provide clear, practical advice. A customer-focused mindset, sound judgement and a collaborative approach will help you identify solutions to complex issues and support effective decision-making.

We're looking for someone who is organised, adaptable and comfortable working both independently and as part of a small, supportive team. You'll also be confident using Microsoft Office applications and hold a full UK driving licence.

While not essential, it would be advantageous if you are an RTPI member, have experience in development management or planning policy, or possess knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Most importantly, we're looking for someone with the right skills, enthusiasm and potential to make a positive impact. Whether your experience comes from a traditional planning background or through working within the water industry, we'd love to hear from you.

Here at Essex and Suffolk Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.

Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.

We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.

Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment

NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.

About us

Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we're committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.

NWG at a glance:

Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.

We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.

We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.

Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.

Our benefits

• Generous holiday entitlement, plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. There's also the option to buy or sell holidays.
• Company pension scheme, where we'll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 10%.
• Free access to local attractions.
• A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
• Award winning 'Living Well' wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
• Support with sustainable travel - through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
• Financial wellbeing support - access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
• Support with your development - we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we'll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.

Our values

• Results Driven
• We take responsibility for achieving excellent business results.
• Ethical
• We are open and honest and meet our commitments with a responsible approach to the environment and our communities.
• Customer Focused
• We aim to exceed the expectations of our internal and external customers.
• Innovative
• We continuously strive for innovative and better ways to deliver our business.
• One Team
• We work together consistently, promoting co-operation, to achieve our corporate objectives.

Colleague benefits

We're the great company we are because of you - our people. As our way of saying thanks, you'll be eligible to some of our wide range of benefits and discounts to take advantage of.

To find out more about our benefits, see our benefits booklet attached to this advert.

• Eyecare
• Discounted Medicals
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle2work
• Buying & selling annual leave
• Long service awards
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Computer
• Loans
• Award winning wellbeing site
• NWG savings scheme
• Company pension scheme
• Pre-retirement workshops
• Life assurance
• Christmas savings club
• Discounts & cashback offers
• Qualification loan