Assistant Planning Officer
Job description
Contract Terms
Starting salary: PO1 (£40,182 – £42,060)
Working schedule: 36 per week, Hybrid
Location: Wood Green, Haringey
Contract type: FTC – 12 Months
Closing date: 20th September 2026
Interview Dates: Week commencing 5th October 2026 (TBC)
About Haringey
Haringey is a fantastic place to live and work – the world in one borough. A place brimming with creativity, personality, radicalism, and community. It is a place where we stand up for each other. A place that is proudly distinctive. We’ll be celebrating all this and more as the “rebel borough” when we are the 2027 London Borough of Culture.
Our history champions change-makers and everyday rebels; revelling in our differences, battling discrimination, championing equality, and doing things our own way. Haringey’s people are a huge asset, with knowledge, expertise, and passion. Our staff members embody our organisational values: Caring, Creative, Courageous, Collaborative and Community-focused. These values keep us looking forward, ambitious for the future, and continuously striving to do our very best for all of our residents.
About the Role
As an Assistant Planning Officer, you will provide essential support to a busy Planning Service, whilst also contributing to planning data improvement and digital transformation initiatives. Working closely with colleagues across Development Management and Planning Support, you will play an important role in both the administration of planning applications and the improvement of planning data using modern digital tools and national data standards.
You will be responsible for assisting with the administration and validation of planning applications, ensuring submissions are processed accurately and in accordance with statutory requirements and council procedures. A key aspect of the role will be ensuring a high level of accuracy when reviewing planning documentation, including checking details within decision notices and associated correspondence.
You will also help manage a busy planning enquiries function, responding to and coordinating enquiries within agreed service standards. This includes monitoring and managing a high-volume mailbox, prioritising workloads and ensuring residents, applicants, agents and stakeholders receive a responsive and professional service.
Key Responsibilities
• Assisting with the administration and validation of planning applications.
• Reviewing submitted applications and supporting validation processes to ensure all required documentation and information is present.
• Checking planning decision notices and associated documents with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.
• Managing a busy planning enquiries mailbox and ensuring timely responses within service standards.
• Handling general planning enquiries from residents, applicants, agents and other stakeholders.
• Registering and administering pre-application enquiries.
• Arranging pre-application meetings and coordinating diaries between applicants and planning officers.
• Liaising with planning officers, customers and stakeholders via telephone, email, online systems and in person.
• Maintaining accurate records across planning systems and databases.
• Assisting in coordinating Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and responses, Member Enquiries and supporting the complaint handling process.
• Monitoring deadlines, collating information and chasing responses to ensure corporate and statutory response times are met.
About the Team
The Planning Innovation & Income Team sits within Haringey’s Planning & Building Standards Service and plays a key role in supporting the delivery and continuous improvement of the borough’s planning service. We are a friendly, collaborative and community-focused team, committed to providing excellent customer service and helping shape the future of Haringey through efficient and innovative planning processes.
About You
We are looking for someone who:
• Has a good understanding of the planning application process and planning administration.
• Is highly organised and able to manage a varied workload effectively.
• Has excellent attention to detail and takes pride in producing accurate work.
• Can confidently manage multiple priorities and switch between tasks as required.
• Thrives in a busy and constantly changing environment.
• Is proactive and able to identify issues and solutions independently.
• Has excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Can build positive working relationships with colleagues, applicants, agents, Elected Members and stakeholders.
• Is comfortable working both independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Has experience using digital systems and databases.
• Is confident learning and using new technology and digital tools.
• Has experience using Customer Relationship Manager or case management systems.
• Has knowledge or experience of Salesforce or Salesforce-based products such as Arcus (desirable).
• Has an interest in planning, digital transformation and continuous service improvement.
Working for Haringey
At Haringey Council we are committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included, and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce so welcome applications from all ethnicities and communities so that we continue to make a difference to our residents and community.
Our benefits package includes a leave entitlement of 31 days + bank holidays, potential hybrid working opportunities, health and wellbeing support, a generous local government pension scheme and a range of discount schemes across leisure and culture that provide both financial and money-saving discounts.
Please note: we reserve the right to end this advert before the noted deadline if we receive sufficient applications. If you wish to apply for this role, please ensure that you do so as soon as possible.
Additionally, we are aware that automated emails may be diverted through to junk email folders. Please continue to check these through the application process. If you have any questions about the status of your application, please contact ResourcingHub@haringey.gov.uk.
Attachments
Salary range
- £40,182 - £42,060 per year