Principal Planner

Are you an experienced planner with a deep commitment to delivering high quality placemaking through the Development Management system? Would you relish the chance to make a key positive to a beautiful local authority on the edge of London?  Do you want to have the chance to help improve and shape an area based development management  team to make a big positive difference to the lives of Tandridge’s communities and environments?    If so, this role is for you. 

About us

Tandridge is a largely rural area at the eastern end of Surrey with extensive areas of high-quality landscape and superlative heritage assets.  Its location next to London and Gatwick Airport creates strong housing and other pressures and demands on the district’s beautiful settlement areas and natural environments.  The Council has a Development Management team in place that is ambitious about performing well and is now looking to improve its capacity and skills.  The Council is delivering on a continuous improvement plan for the Planning Service and is looking to the Development Management team to play a key role in delivering the high quality placemaking, green growth and enhanced natural environments which form part of the vision for the District. 

The Role

This role provides a fantastic opportunity to play a role in helping to shape and deliver on the new planning and corporate visions for the District.  It will require creativity, energy and an ability to think innovatively to tackle the unique planning challenges we face in our District.   The role will require management skills as well as strong technical abilities to drive improvements in the Western area team. 

This is a great opportunity to further a career in planning.

The role is:

• Interesting and extremely rewarding, designed to help you develop your technical and management skills and experience and to progress your career.
• Key to progressing improvements in the Area based DM teams.
• Ideal for someone who likes to work flexibly, with a lively, dynamic, friendly, and supportive team of planning professionals.

What we offer

In addition to the stated pay we are offering membership and contributions towards the Local Government Pension Scheme, flexible working (requiring presence in the office for a minimum of two days per week), flexi-time, payment of a relevant professional subscription and access to a discounted health scheme.

Training and development will be available as required.

We offer a friendly working environment with on-site parking and proximity to Oxted Station.

To be considered for interview

In addition to submitting your CV, please send a short statement setting out how you feel you meet the essential key Skills and knowledge criteria listed in the Role Specification:

Ability to attend the office in Oxted a minimum of 2 days per week is essential. 

Full driving licence and access to a vehicle is required for business use.

Want to know more?

If this sounds like your kind of challenge and you want to be part of our friendly and supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.

If you’d like to know more, please read our role profile and specification, or for an informal discussion about the role, please e-mail Femi Nwanze, Fnwanze@tandridge.gov.uk or Peter Lee, Plee@tandridge.gov.uk  

Diversity statement

At Tandridge District Councill, we pride ourselves on maintaining an inclusive workplace, ensuring that equality, fairness, and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, and good practice is embedded in the council’s culture and services.

We welcome, applications from all sectors of our community, including BAME, LGBTQ+ and all groups protected under the Equality Act.

Tandridge is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.