Senior Planning Officer

Job Introduction

We are seeking a Senior Planning Officer (Development Management).

This is your chance to join Lincolnshire County Council’s progressive Development Management Team. The Team deals with waste, minerals and County Council development planning applications, enforcement and monitoring.

You will have a degree, or equivalent in planning or a related subject, and if not already, be eligible to be a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. You will also have a sound knowledge of current planning legislation and guidance. Experience in minerals and/or waste planning is also required as the case load of planning applications will involve dealing with a range of minerals and waste proposals -  these proposals require a working knowledge of the technologies and process concerned.

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 home/distance working with attendance at the office generally required 1 or 2 days per week. The post holder 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.

Job overview

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 but will be supported by senior colleagues as your knowledge and career develops. You will also have line management responsibility for one Planning Officer

Key responsibilities

• Appraise and make recommendations and decisions on a wide range of planning applications (these will often 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 and 
• 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 the Planning Officer 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.

Specific qualifications and experience

• Membership or eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute
• Understanding of the Development Management process
• Experience of working in the development industry on cases with a range of complexity or ability to demonstrate relevant transferable skills.
• Knowledge of planning legislation such as Town and Country Planning Act, National Policy Framework, Legislation and Planning Practice Guidance.
• Ability to translate complex information, provide professional advice and guidance and to present information to a range of stakeholders in a clear and precise manner 
• Ability to demonstrate strong project management skills
• Experience of negotiation and interpretation of complex technical detail.
• Proven experience in considering different customer needs and adapting communications and processes accordingly. 
• Proven experience in making decisions including managing frequently conflicting priorities and deadlines.  

Personal qualities & attributes

• Self-motivated and self-reliant with excellent teamworking skills 
• High level of personal resilience and calm under pressure 
• Willingness to learn and respond to new challenges and changes and be able to adapt to these
• Confidence and ability to make decisions 
• Ability to recognise and resolve barriers 
• Awareness and ability to anticipate the need for support or personal development
• Good interpersonal and communication skills; able to develop and maintain relationships with customers and colleagues; emotional intelligence
• Willingness and ability to support and challenge others, whilst maintaining own workload 
• An ability to find positive and practical solutions to problems 
• Commitment to quality output and outcomes 
• Attention to detail and ability to deliver work to tight deadlines and be flexible in managing workloads

 If you would like an open and informal discussion regards this role then please contact Sandra Barron via email on Sandra.Barron@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Closing date: 30th November 2025.

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.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack here to support you in your application.

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.