Principal Planning Policy Officer in Northampton

About the role

North Northamptonshire Council is a product of local government reorganisation which took place across Northamptonshire in 2021. We have brought together the four former district and borough and county Local Planning Authority planning functions and are working through a transformation programme to create a single high‑performing planning service for North Northamptonshire. North Northamptonshire is a high‑growth area offering an exciting opportunity for professional development.

With a long history of plan‑making, we are at the start of preparing a new Local Plan under the new plan‑making system, to provide a spatial vision for the whole area and have just undertaken the Scoping consultation. We are delivering sustainable urban extensions in differing phases of development, a wealth of large commercial and industrial development proposals and everything in between. We are also tasked with protecting and enhancing our high‑quality rural environment, with over 100 attractive towns and villages and have an active programme of neighbourhood plans.

This is a role that can offer a breadth of opportunities to utilise your knowledge and experience, and develop your career, in a job that is both challenging and rewarding. In this dynamic role you will play a vital part in supporting the effective delivery of North Northamptonshire’s planning policy functions. You will be at the forefront of providing customer service, engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including members of the public, various agencies and councillors, ensuring every interaction reflects our commitment to the future of our area.

You will be joining us at an exciting time as we implement our new team structure, come together in new headquarter offices, and roll‑out new planning software and ways of working. Working as a Principal Planning Policy Officer you will be at the forefront of supporting and delivering initiatives, as a part of our continuing transformation and improvement journey, influencing the evolution of our service.

You will be responsible for leading day‑to‑day service delivery of planning policy functions including the preparation and delivery of the new Local Plan; and maintaining delivery of a full range of other planning policy services and projects including neighbourhood planning, providing policy responses to applications and consultations, master planning and planning and supporting the delivery of capital projects. There’s a lot of nationally significant growth taking place, this role will be at the forefront of ensuring it’s planned to the highest of standards.

You will be part of a team structure that is designed to ensure that you can both benefit from the support and guidance of colleagues to help you achieve your potential but also utilise your own knowledge to mentor junior colleagues. Through our ‘Development Team’ approach we will offer opportunities for all officers to be involved in bespoke project teams brought together to handle the various largescale and high‑profile developments.

About you

You will hold a relevant degree and qualifications or have the appropriate experience that would allow you to be eligible for chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent). You will be able to demonstrate extended experience of plan‑making and/or the management or delivery of planning policy projects, including largescale/complex proposals. Extensive knowledge of the English planning system, including legislation, the National Planning Policy Framework and best practice advice. You are able to deliver excellent customer service under pressure.

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill‑health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

North Northamptonshire Council is an organisation that values customer focus, respect, efficiency, support and trustworthiness while developing a high‑quality planning service for the community.

Disability Confident Employer

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment.

Armed Forces Community

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).