Lead Planning Officer

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This range is provided by North Northamptonshire Council. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Direct message the job poster from North Northamptonshire Council.

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 can offer a breadth of opportunities to utilise your knowledge and experience, in a job that is both challenging and rewarding.

Please note Interviews will 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 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. Working as a Lead Planning Officer you will be at the forefront of supporting initiatives and be part of our continuing transformation and improvement journey, influencing the evolution of our service.

You will direct and oversee all day‑to‑day operations and manage assigned employees. You will lead a team structured to ensure that those staff assigned to you can benefit from the support and guidance you can offer, as you help them achieve their potential.

Your principal responsibilities will be focused on delivery of the Development Management service, for example ensuring that national and local performance targets are met. You will also be expected to utilise your planning knowledge and experience, to work with others on large scale and high‑profile developments.

You will hold a relevant degree and qualifications or have the appropriate experience that would allow you to be eligible for chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent).

You will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive track record of both:

You will have experience of working at a senior level for a Local Planning Authority.

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• 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 and Behaviours 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
• Supportive
• Trustworthy

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Government Administration and Community Development and Urban Planning