Career Graded Planning Policy Officer/Senior Planning Policy Officer

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced and enthusiastic individual to join our busy planning policy team to help us progress our Local Plan at a crucial stage in the plan-making process.

In this role you will be working as part of a friendly and supportive team contributing to the formulation of the local plan, neighbourhood development plans and supplementary planning documents through evidence gathering and analysis.

Our work means balancing significant development pressures in a constrained area which includes Green Belt, Mendip Hills National Landscape, extensive areas vulnerable to flooding and other sensitive environments.  Our challenges are wide ranging and as a result there will be plenty of opportunity to develop your career.

This is a career graded post rising from £31,067 to £46,731 pa depending on skills and experience.  Typical activities for this role are dependent on the grade, based on the knowledge, skills and experience you have. Further information can be found in the attached Job description.

Key Responsibilities:

• Make a significant contribution towards the preparation, monitoring and review of Development Plan Documents.
• Work effectively with colleagues, stakeholders and other partner agencies to deliver sustainable development.
• Have experience and understanding of working in a political environment.
• Prepare evidence for local plan examinations and present evidence where appropriate according to abilities.
• Excellent research, report writing, verbal communication and project management skills.
• Manage and prioritise your own workload.
• Analyse and interpret data and make recommendations to support the plan-making process.
• Provide expert policy advice to colleagues within the service to support development management and enforcement decisions.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• Work both from home and the office. While this position is based in the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, we operate a hybrid working environment. Most of the team predominantly work from home however, we currently attend the office as a team once a week, or more frequently depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about planning and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Undergraduate Degree in Town and Country Planning or equivalent.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience dealing with a wide range of planning issues.
• A broad knowledge of planning policy, legislation, processes and practices.

Desirable Criteria:

• Eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent.
• Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Natalie Richards, Planning Policy Manager, at natalie.richards@n-somerset.gov.uk or 01934 426665

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Thursday 10 July 2025.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated.  We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave.  We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.