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Form of work
SalaryAbout the role
Our Major Projects team facilitates large-scale economic growth opportunities in West Northamptonshire including residential urban extensions, logistics development, specialist employment opportunities including engineering and Formula 1, HS2 and our Development Consent Order consents. Working with high profile stakeholders, the team shapes, influences and delivers schemes of regional, national and international significance. The team works closely with our Strategic Planning Committee to aid its decision making.
As our Major Projects Officer, you will provide appropriate advice on all major Development Management matters including the provision of appropriate pre-application advice and the effective and efficient processing of applications for planning permission and all other related consents.
What will you be doing?
Day to day, you’ll respond to requests for support from high profile stakeholders seeking to engage with the Planning Service. You’ll lead and support on pre-application enquiries, give technical advice to the public, developers, agents, Members, other departments of the Council and other and bodies regarding development proposals, and make recommendations on major applications and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development. You’ll also support the Mainstream Application Teams where their applications require additional technical resource and input.
You’ll also prepare planning appeal statements/proofs of evidence and represent the Council at appeal site visits, informal hearings and public inquiries as a professional expert witness.
Throughout you will provide proactive support to our Customer Contact Centre and Customer Feedback teams, ultimately ensuring we deliver excellent customer service in every interaction for all internal and external customers, including Councillors.
About you
We are looking for an individual with excellent communication and customer service skills, knowledge and understanding of planning legislation, case law and policy, planning techniques and the development management and enforcement process (including S106 and the community infrastructure levy). You’ll need practical experience that demonstrates a significant range of Major Planning Applications and development management activities and appeals.
You’ll need a relevant degree and corporate membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, and evidence of continued professional development.
You’ll bring with you great interpersonal and team building skills and be the sort of person who consistently strives for continuous improvement and excellence.
If you are ready for new challenge with a fantastic team, we would love to hear from you.
Our benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:
- Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
- Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
- Car Lease scheme
- Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
- Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
- Ongoing training and development opportunities.
- A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
- Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
- Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.
About us
We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.
Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.
Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU
At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.
Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.
West Northants Council, where careers thrive.
