Vacancies

Principal Planning Officer

Job Introduction

LCC is seeking to appoint a Principal Planning Officer to join the Development Management Team. The Team deals with waste, minerals and County Council development planning applications, enforcement and monitoring.

About the role

Within the Development Management (DM) team, in partnership with others, we deliver expert planning advice to internal and external customers, process planning applications, pre-application enquiries to ensure the natural and built environment of Lincolnshire is safeguarded and to promote sustainable development. You will be the lead planning officer for a variety of applications and will provide professional advice on planning applications especially in respect of Environmental Impact Assessment and contentious developments. You will also have line management responsibility for two Senior Planning Officers and will be expected to contribute to the professional development of individuals across the planning team.

About you

For this post, we are looking for somebody with a degree, or post graduate qualification in planning or a related subject, and who is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. You will have significant development management experience and have a sound knowledge of current planning legislation and guidance. Experience in minerals and/or waste planning is important as the case load of planning applications will involve dealing with a range of minerals and waste proposals, these needing a working knowledge of the technologies and process concerned. You will have managerial and leadership skills and be proficient in time and workload management.

The council operates a flexible working policy. The post is based at Lancaster House, in Lincoln, which is a modern open plan office, but day to day work is undertaken through hybrid working with attendance at the office generally required 1 or 2 days per week. You must hold a current driving licence and be able to visit sites anywhere in the county which range from schools, waste sites, landfill sites and quarries.

Key Responsibilities include

Appraise and make recommendations and decisions on a wide range of planning applications (these will predominantly be major developments and/or complex and controversial applications) against Local and National Planning Policy, regulations, and legislative frameworks.
Negotiate with External Agencies and Applicants in a positive and constructive way to deliver sustainable development.
Conduct public consultations in line with statutory requirements and Council policy to ensure that all parties affected by potential development can provide comment and appropriate input.
Respond to planning related enquiries from the Public, Councillors, prospective Applicants, and all other Customers to deliver timely and constructive advice and information.
Provide mentoring and support to junior officers to ensure appropriate and effective service is delivered to the required standard.
Provide planning related advice and guidance through the pre-application process to all customers and interested parties to help ensure that future planning applications will be aligned to Local and National Planning Policy.

About Our Offer

Along with a competitive salary we are offering:

A Contributory pension
Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work
Flexible working policies
Career progression opportunities
A generous annual leave entitlement plus the option to buy more

Further details can be found here: Rewards and benefits – Lincolnshire County Council

If this sounds like the role for you, then please read through the full Job Description, before clicking apply! If you would like to know more about Lincolnshire County Council and our current vacancies then click on over to Homepage – Lincolnshire County Council

Applications will close on 10/08/2025 and interviews will take place WC 01/09/25

For a confidential and informal discussion about the role please contact:

Mike Daley via email mike.daley@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Best of luck with your application

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your covering letter/personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary. Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.