Are you looking to kickstart your career in planning? We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Planning Officer to join our friendly and forward-thinking Development Management team at Solihull Council. This is a career-graded role, designed to help you grow and succeed. You’ll receive tailored training and dedicated support from experienced colleagues to develop your skills and progress in your planning career. What you’ll do: Deliver a timely, end-to-end planning service by processing planning and related applications, as well as permitted development enquiries. Provide clear, professional communication and excellent customer service to applicants, stakeholders, and elected members throughout the planning process. Ensure all applications meet Solihull Council’s procedural requirements and comply with planning legislation. What we’re looking for: Minimum of 5 GCSEs (grades A–C / 4–9) or equivalent. Experience in a customer service environment, with strong written, verbal, and telephone communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and resilience to handle and resolve challenging calls relating to dispute Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to meet fixed deadlines. Why join Solihull? Our borough is a fantastic place to live and work, with plenty to explore. We’re home to UK Central, one of the largest growth programmes in the country, encompassing major developments such as Birmingham Airport, Jaguar Land Rover, Arden Cross, HS2, and the NEC. You’ll gain experience across a diverse range of planning work, from vibrant urban areas to rural villages and protected Green Belt land. We’re currently delivering a revised Local Plan and preparing for HS2, while continuing to champion design quality, community benefits, and green and blue infrastructure. With such an ambitious agenda, we need someone who can provide a responsive planning service and undertake site visits by car to investigate and act on potential breaches of planning control. In return we can offer: A friendly, supportive and inclusive working environment. A wide range of learning and development opportunities Generous annual leave entitlements. Flexible and agile working including hybrid working. A Flexitime scheme. Access to our Employee Assistance Programme – a 24-hour independent, free and confidential advice and support service. Family and carer-friendly policies. Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Exclusive employee benefits: staff discounts, subsidised travel passes, Cycle 2 Work Scheme. To apply, please click on the link below and make sure your application is in your own words and reflects your own personal experiences. If you have a specific question regarding this post, please contact Kim Allen, Group Manager Closing date: 7th December 2025 Please be advised that should we receive a sufficient number of applications, we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date. We therefore encourage early submission of your application to avoid disappointment. Interviews will be held 12th December 2025 Previous applicants need not apply Please note CV’s will not be accepted for this role. This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers. Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Attached documents Job description and person specification