Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

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North Northamptonshire Council is a product of local government reorganisation which took place across Northamptonshire in 2021. We have brought together the four former district and borough and county Local Planning Authority planning functions and working through a transformation programme to create a single high-performing planning service for North Northamptonshire.

North Northamptonshire is a high-growth area offering an exciting opportunity for professional development. We are working on preparing a new Local Plan to provide a spatial vision for the whole area. We are delivering sustainable urban extensions in differing phases of development, a wealth of large commercial and industrial development proposals and everything in between. This is a role that is crucial to ensuring that quality development we have planned for and consented is realised in a way that safeguards confidence in the planning process, and best protects the wider public interest.

Please note:

Interviews are anticipated to take place on 21st / 22nd January 2026

In this dynamic role you will play a vital part in supporting the effective delivery of North Northamptonshire's planning functions. You will deal with a varied, complex or contentious caseload of alleged breaches of planning control, including booking-in, carrying out site inspections, research, consultations, written communications and report writing, and the assessment of the case. Making appropriate recommendations in accordance with the policies of the Council under the direction of senior colleagues.

This includes the drafting, reviewing, preparation and the service of statutory notices.

You will be at the forefront of providing customer service, engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including members of the public, applicants and councillors, ensuring every interaction reflects our commitment to the future of our area.

You will be joining us at an exciting time as we implement our new team structure, come together in new headquarter offices, and roll‑out new planning software and ways of working. You will then be part of our continuing transformation and improvement journey, influencing the service.

You will be educated to degree level (or equivalent) or have equivalent experience of statutory and regulatory enforcement.

We are seeking candidates with a good understanding of the English Planning System and recent experience of working in an enforcement environment.

You will have the ability to remain calm in confrontational situations, and to communicate effectively, openly and clearly to customers, including face to face.

You will be able to undertake site visits, and attend meetings as required.

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we're transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Eff…