Principal Planning Officer - Development Management

Kent County Council

Principal Planning Officer - Development Management

Salary £55,764 - £62,535 per annum

Permanent Full Time

Location:
County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom

Job Reference: /TP/60815/15287

Closing date: 19 October, 2026

Are you an experienced planning professional seeking to apply your expertise to some of the most significant and high-profile development proposals considered by Kent County Council’s Planning Applications Group.

This is a rare opportunity to develop specialist expertise in minerals and waste planning in a highly valued area of planning practice that supports sustainable growth and essential infrastructure. It is also a superb opportunity to gain wider experience in a specialist area of planning.

You will manage a varied caseload of minerals and waste development applications and support the determination of applications for the County Council's own infrastructure and development projects, helping to deliver schools, community facilities and key infrastructure across Kent.

You will assess some of our most significant and complex development proposals, prepare and present reports to Members and Planning Committee and represent the Council at planning appeals, hearings, inquiries and legal proceedings, including as an expert witness where required. You will also support and develop colleagues, through technical guidance, mentoring and quality assurance.

You will have strong development management expertise, including major developments, EIA development and Appropriate Assessment and the ability to exercise sound professional judgement in complex cases. You will demonstrate strong political awareness within a development management environment, understand the County Council’s role, have a knowledge of current and emerging planning legislation, policy and guidance and have a proven ability to work with and engage effectively with applicants, consultees, Members and other stakeholders.

You will hold a relevant degree (or equivalent) in planning or a related environmental or legal discipline and be a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or be eligible for Chartered Membership.

You will have knowledge and experience of minerals and/or waste development and/or community development and demonstrable experience in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), EIA development and Appropriate Assessment Development.

We recognise that minerals and waste planning is a very specialist field and we welcome applications from experienced planners with transferable skills from development management who are looking to broaden their expertise in this rewarding area of practice. You will gain experience in a niche field that is highly valued across the planning profession, offering excellent career prospects and transferable skills.

Based at County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, we offer hybrid working (subject to business needs), typically combining two days a week in the office with home working. The successful candidate will need to live within a reasonable commuting distance of Kent, as the role requires regular attendance at County Hall and travel to sites and meetings across the county, including to locations that may not be easily accessible by public transport.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh…