Principal Planning Officer - Council

Role:
Principal Planning Officer

Contract Length: 3 month rolling contract

Location:

Remote with work at various locations (Shrewsbury / Oswestry). Attendance at planning committees as relevant. At least 1 day per month at the Guildhall.

IR35:
Inside

Pay Rate to Intermediary: £55 per hour

Spinwell is recruiting for a Principal Planning Officer for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.

The Principal Planning Officer is a key member of the planning team, responsible for overseeing the delivery of an effective development control function across a defined area of the County. In doing so the officer will be directly responsible for their own caseload of large and more complex planning applications, as well as managing the processing and determination of all planning and other associated applications/appeals by other officers.

The purpose of the role is to:

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• Provide support to the Area Planning Manager in delivering a planning service that meets the objectives and operating principles of Shropshire as an enterprising council as well as statutory requirements.
• Be a key member of the Development Management team, available to support the development and delivery of the Council's statutory and discretionary regulatory functions in respect of development management, and to ensure that specialist advice on this function is provided to other teams and service areas across the Council when required.
• Provide line management support to Area Planning Officers including the assessment of individual and team performance against agreed shared and personal targets.
• Develop sustainable working relationships with customers and stakeholders to realise the benefits of effective communication and transformed service delivery.

• Degree and post-graduate qualification or equivalent in planning or related discipline.
• Evidence of a commitment to continual professional development/training
• Significant post qualification experience, demonstrating clear ability to work efficiently and effectively.
• Extensive experience of engaging and negotiating with senior planning professionals.
• Significant experience of communicating effectively and confidently with a wide range of individuals and organisations.
• A comprehensive understanding of legislation and procedures relating to a local authority development control function.
• Proven experience of the successful delivery of customer care in a complex environment.
• Significant knowledge of how the planning function interfaces with the Council as a whole, and an understanding of a customer focussed approach.
• Significant experience of development control/management.
• Significant practical post qualification experience in planning.
• Sufficient experience to be able to undertake all functions of the role with a minimum of supervision.
• Experience of management/supervision in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to develop strong and effective partnership relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively understand, analyse and interpret complex information and data to inform effective decision taking.
• Clear and concise report writing and recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills sufficient to establish and maintain effective problem-solving relationships with the public, partners, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ability to motivate team members and maximise their output
• IT skills sufficient to manipulate complex data and produce reports.
• The ability to be work under pressure, dealing with conflicting demands.
• The ability to express complex issues clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to provide visible leadership and direction.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, good customer care.
• Ability to manage others fairly and effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to actively listen.
• Ability to take and substantiate a wide range of decisions relating to professional and management matters.
• Ability to deal professionally with conflict situations and resolve complaints, displaying a fair, even-handed and consistent approach in line with…