Planning Technician; Policy and Delivery

• East Suffolk Council
• Address:East Suffolk House, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1RT
  and Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ
• Salary: £29,542 - £35,570 (Band 4/5) per annum
• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed term until
  
  December 2027*

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We currently have an exciting maternity cover opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Policy and Delivery Team as a Planning Technician until December 2027.

* Please note that, as this is a maternity cover position, the fixed-term contract may end earlier than December 2027 should the substantive postholder return to work sooner than expected.

This is an excellent opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Planning Policy & Delivery Team on a fixed-term maternity cover basis. This role provides a varied mix of technical, administrative and digital support to the Planning Policy & Delivery Team, as well as providing support to other teams in the Planning and Building Control Service, including our Specialist Services team.

The Planning Policy and Delivery team leads on the preparation of the Council’s planning policy documents, including Local Plans, planning guidance and monitoring documents. We have an innovative and forward looking team of Technicians, who have driven improvements in our digital ways of working, including how we share our information online and enable the public to interact.

The role involves the creation and management of website content, designing and publishing high-quality documents and maps, and supporting public consultation and community engagement activities, including through the use of digital platforms. The role also involves responding to enquiries from residents and stakeholders, assisting Neighbourhood Plan groups,and supporting the internal administration of the team.

Reflecting our ambition to improve the way we make our planning information and data available, and the increasing digitisation of the planning system, the role provides an opportunity for innovation and new ideas, by supporting the Lead Technician in identifying areas for technical and digital improvement.. Our Planning Delivery Dashboard is just one example of the types of projects you will get involved in.

The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of an efficient, customer-focused service while upholding the organisation's values and standards

We are looking for someone with excellent IT skills and a customer-focused approach to the provision and communication of information, with an ability to work methodically and accurately in a timely manner. Experience in a Planning related role, whilst desirable, is not essential, and the role will provide excellent opportunities for personal development.

You will have strong organisational skills and be able to manage a varied workload in a busy environment. The role requires the ability to work independently and as part of a team, with excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills. You will have strong written skills, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain accurate records and filing systems. Good analytical abilities, particularly in relation to data and mapping information, are essential.

The role also requires proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Access and Teams, together with experience of GIS mapping and data analysis. Flexibility, professionalism and the ability to adapt to changing priorities are key.

Applicants should be educated to A-Level standard,…