Technical Support Officer (Development Management, Appeals and CIL) in Hailsham

Are you looking for a new role where you’ll be a key part of a professional, forward-thinking team, helping to ensure our services are accurate, compliant and responsive? Join Wealden District Council’s Planning Department and take ownership of a vital, end-to-end role at the heart of how we manage growth and development. This is a post with real responsibility, from handling planning appeals to supporting planning obligations and the wider teams. If you’re looking for a role where your work genuinely matters, apply today and make a difference.

We are looking for a highly organised and reliable individual who is ready to take ownership of critical support functions within Planning. You will be someone who thrives on accuracy, understands the importance of deadlines, and takes pride in keeping complex processes running smoothly. From managing planning appeals to supporting CIL, S106 agreements and Assets of Community Value, you will play a central role in ensuring our statutory responsibilities are met with confidence and professionalism.

As a key member of our Planning Department, you will take ownership of a vital, end-to-end function that underpins how the service operates. You will:

• Act as the first point of contact for the public, internal officers and the Planning Inspectorate on Planning and Enforcement Appeals.
• Register, manage and process appeals, ensuring full compliance with statutory deadlines and legislation.
• Organise public inquiries and hearings, including attending events and coordinating all related arrangements.
• Support the administration of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), including processing forms, monitoring compliance and ensuring payments are made.
• Help improve and modernise systems to strengthen services.
• Promote and deliver the wider departments communication agenda.

This is a role with real responsibility, where accuracy, organisation and ownership directly contribute to the Council meeting its obligations.

Experience in office-based work (experience within a Planning environment is desirable but not essential).

Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Office and the ability to work with digital systems.

Strong interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

A high level of attention to detail, with the self-motivation to manage tasks and deadlines independently.

You will be someone who can be trusted to manage complex processes accurately and consistently, and who understands the importance of getting things right first time.

Competitive salary & pension scheme. Incremental progression subject to satisfactory performance. A friendly, supportive team. Opportunities for continuing professional development. Hybrid working.

Wealden District Council is a future‑focused organisation committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, and we expect all employees and volunteers to share this responsibility. We are proud to maintain a diverse workforce and inclusive environment where individuality is valued, and all applications are assessed on merit. As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure fair and accessible recruitment, offer workplace adjustments, and guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

We also hold the Gold Standards Award for employee wellbeing, reflecting our dedication to supporting our people to thrive. At Wealden District Council, inclusion, wellbeing and equal opportunity are central to who we are and how we work.

We welcome innovation and do not automatically exclude candidates who use AI tools during the application process. However, we assess each application to ensure the candidate genuinely understands the role and its requirements. AI may be used ethically and responsibly, provided it supports, rather than compromises our core values of integrity, transparency, and fairness. During assessments and interviews, candidates must present their own skills and experience without assistance from others, external resources, or AI, unless explicitly instructed otherwise.