Assistant Planning Officer - career grade; Maternity cover

About The Role

East Herts Council is looking for an Assistant Planning Officer to join our welcoming and progressive Development Management team on a 1‑year fixed‑term contract providing maternity cover.

East Herts is a district rich and diverse in character, with attractive market towns and villages and special landscape, natural and built heritage features, including 42 conservation areas and over 3000 listed buildings. It is also experiencing significant growth, with a number of strategic sites coming forward for development, including a new settlement of 10,000 homes within the emerging ‘Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.’

Our ambitious planning policies aim to maximise affordable housing delivery, secure sustainable, environmentally progressive development, and deliver the highest quality built environment, whilst respecting, celebrating, and protecting the district’s distinct rural character and unique heritage.

We are looking for enthusiastic, hard‑working individuals who are keen to learn and share our aims and ambitions. Good customer skills, the ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal), and efficient time management are essential for this role.

In return we offer the opportunity to work on a varied and interesting caseload of work, as part of a fast‑paced, friendly and experienced team that will support you to develop your skills and progress your career. You’ll have your own portfolio of work and we encourage career progression through mentorship from experienced officers and opportunities to work as part of a project team on some of our strategic development projects.

• Responsible for a varied case load of planning and other related applications
• Provision of pre‑application advice
• Provision of the Council’s duty officer service
• Ensuring that development of the highest quality is secured, meeting policy and corporate objectives

• A good standard of general secondary education including GCSE qualifications in Maths & English and a minimum of 2 A/AS levels or equivalent.
• A planning or related degree such as geography or environmental sciences is desirable.
• Willingness and ambition to train further in the town planning field through the town planning apprenticeship pathway.
• Good communication skills with the ability to deliver planning information in a positive and proactive way.
• The ability to assimilate, understand and articulate issues rapidly.
• Excellent time management and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent written skills.
• A valid, full driving licence.

• Opportunities for growth and cross‑department working, learning new skills and service areas.
• 26–29 days annual leave rising to 34 days with 5 years' local government service.
• Usage of our e‑fleet during business hours for business‑related visits.
• Employee well‑being programme.
• Employee events group.
• Regular opportunities to socialise with other teams within the council.
• Flexible working arrangements, including flexi‑time.
• Up to 50% working from home for eligible posts.
• Free parking in our offices and select council‑owned car parks during business hours.
• Access to well‑being and occupational health schemes such as the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Local Government pension scheme.
• Discounts at council‑owned leisure centres.
• Opportunity to network with colleagues across councils in Hertfordshire and the East Of England.