Senior Planning policy Officer (Urban Design) in Rotherham

Directorate: Regeneration & Environment

Permanent, Full time, 37 hours per week

Help Shape the Future of Rotherham

This is an exciting opportunity to join Rotherham at a pivotal moment as we prepare a new Local Plan and deliver high-quality growth across the borough. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic planning professional with a passion for urban design, place-making and creating successful communities. This unique role sits within our Planning Policy Team but also plays a key role in shaping major development proposals, ensuring that new development delivers attractive, sustainable and well-designed places.

If you want the opportunity to influence both the long-term vision for the borough and the design quality of significant development schemes coming forward today, this could be the perfect role for you.

About the Role

As our Urban Design & Planning Policy Officer, you will help shape how Rotherham grows by influencing planning policy, preparing design guidance and providing specialist urban design input on major planning applications. You will:

• Play a leading role in the preparation of Rotherham's new Local Plan.
• Develop planning policies and guidance that promote high-quality design and place-making.
• Lead or contribute to evidence base projects relating to design, townscape and character.
• Provide urban design advice on major and strategic development proposals.
• Work closely with Development Management colleagues to influence schemes at the earliest stages.
• Engage with developers, consultants, local communities and elected members to secure better design outcomes.
• Prepare design guidance, master planning advice and policy documents.
• Support the delivery of sustainable growth, regeneration and investment across the borough.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strong planning knowledge with a real enthusiasm for urban design and creating places where people want to live, work and spend time. You will have:

• Significant experience in planning, urban design, master planning or a related discipline.
• A strong understanding of planning policy and the development management process.
• Experience of assessing development proposals and advising on design quality.
• Knowledge of current national planning, design and placemaking agendas.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to manage complex projects and balance competing priorities.
• A collaborative approach and confidence working with a wide range of partners and professionals.
• A professional qualification in Planning, Urban Design, Architecture or a related discipline is essential. Membership of the RTPI, Urban Design Group, RIBA or equivalent professional body would be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to shape both the strategic direction and the design of future neighbourhoods, town centres and regeneration projects across Rotherham. You'll be part of a supportive and ambitious Planning Service, helping to deliver a new Local Plan while directly influencing developments that will define the borough for future generations. From new neighbourhoods and employment sites to town centre regeneration and infrastructure projects, your work will have a lasting and visible impact.

If you are passionate about design, planning and creating great places, we'd love to hear from you. Join us and help create the vision, character and quality of Rotherham's future development.

For an informal discussion about the roles, please contact Emma Ottewell, Development Manager, email - emma.ottewell@rotherham.gov.uk

This post will have access to the Public Services Network, if successful you will be required to apply for a disclosure of criminal records check at the Basic level (unspent criminal convictions).

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview.