Senior Planning Officer in Brecon

Senior Planning Officer (Strategy & Policy)

Location: Brecon

Salary: GRADE 10 £39,862 - £42,839

Vacancy Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Closing Date: 11 August 2026

Interview Date: 25 August 2026

Job Purpose

• To prepare, monitor and keep under review the Local Development Plan (LDP) and associated planning policy and guidance.
• To help to ensure that the Authority's statutory responsibilities are carried out in accordance with Government legislation, policy, procedure and guidance and accord with National Park statutory purposes.
• To help to ensure that the Planning Service is efficient, effective, responsive, fair, inclusive and open to examination.

Main Responsibilities

• To support the preparation, review and delivery of the LDP in accordance with the Delivery Agreement, to include associated research, data collection, analysis and consultation procedures.
• To undertake other planning policy work including land availability studies, development briefs, Place Plans, supplementary planning guidance and responding to draft national planning guidance and consultations.
• To undertake monitoring of the local development plan and planning policy.
• To undertake when appropriate, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening and provide EIA screening and scoping opinions on behalf of the Authority.
• To prepare and keep under review the LDP evidence base to underpin and support LDP policies.
• To undertake and support planning development management casework in the National Park and on the fringes of the National Park.
• Prepare and presents reports to Committees.
• Negotiate with agents, developers, internal consultees and statutory bodies in respect of planning related work, including development plan preparation, planning applications, pre-application enquiries, the negotiation of Section 106 Agreements and providing design and sustainable development advice.
• Dealing with preliminary and formal pre-application enquiries in respect of developments within the National Park and major developments on the fringes of the National Park.
• To undertake all types of planning Appeals and Examinations in Public, including the production of statements and proof of evidence and appear as an expert witness on behalf of the National Park Authority and to support the planning team members through appeal hearings, examinations, and inquiries.
• To provide support and contribute to regional planning policy development and implementation.
• To train and mentor planning officers and technicians and assist in their continuing professional development as appropriate.
• To provide planning policy advice to Senior Officers, Members and other departments of the Authority.
• To respond to enquiries from members of the public and stakeholders on planning matters.
• To occasionally attend appropriate Community Council and other stakeholder meetings, sometimes outside normal office hours.
• Any other duty, appropriate to the grade and nature of the post as required.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• A recognised qualification, degree in Town and Country Planning or a related discipline or equivalent planning policy experience.
• Relevant experience in Planning Policy and/or Development Management including the development of evidence based strategy/policy making and monitoring.
• Good knowledge of planning policy, relevant legislation, regulations and national/regional policies.
• Experience in delivering public engagement and consultation programmes.
• Ability to work on own initiative & organise workload effectively.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Good communication, interpersonal and report writing skills including proof reading.
• Ability to organise meetings with appropriate follow‑up work.
• Ability to research, interpret and analyse a variety of complex data.
• An ability to work as part of a team and to mentor and support colleagues as a point of reference on planning related issues.
• The ability to mentor and train junior members of staff.
• Current driving license.
• Knowledge of the Brecon Beacons National Park and its statutory purposes and duty.
• Level 1 Welsh Language Skill.