Career Grade Planning Officer
Number of Positions
1
Contract Type
Permanent
Working Hours
37
Salary
Grade 7-8 £38,009 - £44,804 (inclusive of Local Weighting) plus a £3,500 Market Supplement*
Job Category
Planning
Location
East Herts Council offices, Wallfields, Hertford
Reference
eastherts/TP/907/142
Full-Time, 37 hours per week, permanent. Blended working is available in Hertford.
East Herts Council is looking for a Planning Officer or Senior Planning Officer (depending on experience) to come and join our welcoming and progressive Development Management team.
This role is suitable for someone that already has experience working in Development Management and is interested in managing a mixed and varied portfolio of planning work. If appointed at Planning officer level, this career grade post provides the opportunity to progress to senior level, working on more complex/major applications and supervising more junior members of the team.
East Herts is a District rich and diverse in character with attractive market towns, villages, special landscapes, and natural and built heritage features, including 42 Conservation Areas and over 3,000 listed buildings. It is also experiencing significant growth, and we have a number of strategic sites coming forward for development, including a new settlement of 10,000 homes within the emerging ‘Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.’
Our ambitious planning policies aim to maximise affordable housing delivery, secure sustainable, environmentally progressive development and deliver the highest quality built environment, whilst respecting, celebrating and protecting the District’s distinct rural character and unique heritage.
We encourage applicants that are enthusiastic, hard-working individuals who are keen to learn and share our aims and ambitions. Good customer skills, being able to communicate effectively (written and verbal) and efficient time management are essential skills for this role.
In return, we offer the opportunity to work on a varied and interesting portfolio of work, working as part of fast-paced, friendly and experienced team that will support you to develop your skills and progress your career. Whilst you’ll have your own portfolio of work, we encourage career progression through mentorship from experienced officers and opportunities to work as part of a project team on some of our strategic development projects.
*In line with their pay policy, EHC will review the application of the Market Forces Supplement annually, and if warranted, will make adjustments in liaison with affected staff.
The Role
You will be responsible for managing a mixed and varied portfolio of planning work (including more complex/major applications depending on experience).
At senior level, you’ll be supervising and mentoring more junior staff and ensuring that development of the highest quality is secured, meeting policy and corporate objectives and providing a high standard of service to our customers.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A degree in town and country planning, geography or an environmental-related subject.
- Previous experience of working as part of a Development Management service managing a mixed and varied case load of planning applications.
- Good communication skills with the ability to deliver planning information in a positive and proactive way to a varied audience.
- The ability to assimilate, understand and articulate planning issues rapidly and make balanced, robust planning recommendations.
- Excellent time management and the ability to meet deadlines.
- Excellent written skills.
- A valid, full driving licence.
For those applying for the Senior Planning Officer post, candidates should demonstrate (in addition to the above) how they meet the specific grade 8 criteria in the JD and Person Specification.
How to apply
For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Rachael Collard, Development Management Team Leader. Contact details are available via the apply button.
Closing date: 28th February 2026 at midnight
Interviews will be held in person at the Council’s offices in Hertford at the end of March (we are unable to offer virtual interviews).
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing diversity and maintaining a firm commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We believe that creating inclusive environments leads to stronger collaboration and better outcomes in our work