East Suffolk Council Address: East Suffolk House, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1RT and Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ Salary: £31,537 - £38,220 per annum Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: Permanent East Suffolk Counci l 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 exciting new opportunities to join the East Suffolk Council's Planning Development Team as an Assistant Enforcement Officer. In this varied and rewarding role, you will play a key part in protecting the quality of East Suffolk’s built and natural environment by investigating potential breaches of planning control. You will handle a wide range of enforcement duties, from responding to complaints and carrying out site inspections to gathering evidence, preparing witness statements and, where necessary, participating in court proceedings. Your work will include monitoring planning conditions, assessing unauthorised advertisements and street scene issues, and supporting the Building Control team on inspections relating to potential unauthorised development. You will act as a key point of contact for residents, businesses and partner teams, providing clear advice, undertaking consultations and contributing proactively to the resolution of planning enforcement matters. Alongside your enforcement responsibilities, you will also assess planning applications, often those arising from enforcement investigations, providing informed, well‑evidenced recommendations based on site histories, current policy and thorough site assessment. You will offer pre‑application advice, negotiate with applicants and interested parties, and prepare high‑quality reports for senior officers and the Planning Committee, including occasionally attending evening meetings to present cases. You will maintain accurate up‑to‑date records, prepare evidence for appeals, attend inquiries when required, and consistently uphold the Council’s workplace values. To succeed in this role, you will also need a recognised qualification to degree level or equivalent in a related or relevant discipline, or an appropriate professional qualification recognised by the RTPI (or equivalent). If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all of the essential requirements, please apply. If you are looking for a role that combines administrative duties with the potential for growth and increased responsibility, we would love to hear from you. Why work for us? East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work. Here are some of the main benefits: Great opportunities for training and development Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 24 days a year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays) Local government pension scheme Free car parking (for when you are working in the office) Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services. Please see our benefits brochure for further information (pdf). The majority of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were the successful candidate, please contact the recruiting manager listed at the bottom of this advert. For more information For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Joe Blackmore by emailing joe.blackmore@eastsuffolk.gov.uk Closing date: 11.55pm, 30 January 2026 Interview date: 11, 12 and 13 February 2026 How to apply Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (Word) Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template (Word). Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted). Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted. For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site. 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 hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWedQksWt0