Senior Planning Service Officer

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can access low‑cost leasing of electric and low‑emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.

Job Introduction

We’re recruiting a Senior Planning Service Officer to join our Planning service at Milton Keynes City Council. You’ll play a key role in shaping how Milton Keynes grows and develops. This role matters because the decisions you support will influence homes, neighbourhoods, infrastructure and the future of our city.

You’ll work across the whole Planning service, responding flexibly to demand and helping deliver our corporate and service priorities. You’ll provide clear, professional planning advice to councillors, colleagues, developers, residents and partners. Alongside experienced colleagues, you’ll help ensure development contribute positively to Milton Keynes as a great place to live and work.

This role may be suitable for home working, following an assessment. Home‑based roles require a minimum of one day per week working from the office or site.

Join our team with one of two exciting full-time opportunities, one permanent position and one 2-year fixed-term contract.

Interviews for this role will be held on 23rd July 2026

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We’re dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.

Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk

Role Responsibilities

• Work flexibly across the Planning service which includes Heritage and Design, Development Management, and Development Plans to support corporate and service priorities.
• Assess minor and major planning applications and pre‑application enquiries in line with legislation and policy.
• Provide high‑quality professional planning advice to councillors, colleagues, developers, residents and statutory bodies.
• Represent the council at committees, public meetings, inquiries and hearings, including preparing and presenting statements.
• Contribute to planning policy work, development plan documents and public consultation activity.
• Support neighbourhood planning and community engagement across the city.

Ideal Candidate

• A strong working knowledge of town planning legislation and planning policy.
• Direct experience in both Development Management and Development Plans, including handling planning applications, appeals, and developing planning policy.
• A degree in planning or a related subject, or equivalent experience, with progress towards Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute desirable.
• Experience managing complex planning cases, projects or work programmes.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• A flexible, organised and solution‑focused approach that reflects our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.