Assistant Planning Officer

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, borough and county Local Planning Authority planning functions and are 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. 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. In this role you will play a vital part in supporting the effective delivery of North Northamptonshire's planning functions.

You will ensure the timely registration, validation and processing of planning applications and deal with a caseload of smaller scale planning applications. You will be joining us at an exciting time as we implement our new team structure, come together in new headquarters, 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.

This role could be your first step towards becoming a town planner, as the role may provide the opportunity to work towards a degree or equivalent leading to membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. 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, Efficient, Supportive, Trustworthy. Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

You will be educated to A Level or NVQ3 standard (or equivalent) or have equivalent experience to demonstrate the same level of numeracy and literacy skills. We are seeking candidates with a basic understanding of the English Planning System. You will be able to deliver excellent customer care under pressure. You will be able to undertake site visits and attend meetings as required.

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.

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.