About the role
As a Grade 9 Planning Officer, you will have the opportunity to develop your planning career in a beautiful and iconic area which has:
* an outstanding historic environment including thousands of listed buildings, national landscape designations, and England’s only natural World Heritage Site – the Jurassic Coast
* a place of growth and innovation with a population of 380,000 and an economy worth around £8.1 billion
* a friendly and supportive work environment where you’ll have the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive
* the technology to work between our offices, home or other suitable locations to enable a healthy work‑life balance and to support your wellbeing
* a range of employee benefits including a local government pension, flexible working, a generous holiday allowance as well as an in‑house learning hub and development opportunities that include apprenticeships
By joining us you will be contributing to a bold and ambitious planning service tackling over 5,000 planning applications a year, ranging from urban extensions and retail schemes to renewable energy projects and small‑scale agricultural and householder projects.
What you can expect to be doing
As a Grade 9 Planning Officer you will be part of a fast‑track team covering Bridport, Lyme Regis, Beaminster, Weymouth and Portland. Your caseload will include minor developments and small‑scale projects such as changes of use, advertisement consent, prior approvals, certificates of lawfulness and applications for listed building consent.
You will work with developers, communities, colleagues within the Council and external bodies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency to bring forward appropriate new development. You will prepare reports and recommendations for applications, respond to appeals by written representation and hearings, and will have the opportunity to expand your range of development management experience and progress your career in planning.
About you
You will hold a degree‑level qualification in town planning (or a related subject) and, preferably, a postgraduate qualification in planning. You should have experience in a planning role in either the public or private sector and possess a solid knowledge of the planning system, relevant policies and principles. You will communicate and collaborate proactively with communities, developers and colleagues to achieve the best outcomes for Dorset.
Further Information
This is a full‑time role, 37 hours per week, fixed term until 31 January 2028.
For further information about this role please contact Katrina Trevett by emailing katrina.trevett@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
This post has a significant travel requirement and you are contractually required to have a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the council) available for use as required. Mileage allowance is paid.
You do not need to live in Dorset – we are able to work in a hybrid way, but we would ask that you visit Dorset weekly to undertake site visits and attend meetings.
We are happy to consider part‑time or flexible working arrangements.
To find out more about a career in planning at Dorset Council visit the Council’s website.
This role is UK‑based and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.
If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.
Find out more about how to apply.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.
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