East Suffolk Council Address: East Suffolk House, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1RT and Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ Salary: £54,495 - £58,809 per annum (Band 10) Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: Permanent 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 a new opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Planning Policy and Delivery Team as a Principal Planner. East Suffolk is a large and diverse district, ranging from the significant port towns of Felixstowe and Lowestoft to picturesque market towns, to stunning countryside and coast, with a substantial part of the area falling within the Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths National Landscape. This diversity presents a vast range of planning issues and opportunities. There are ambitious plans for growth coming forward across the district such as the delivery of large-scale new garden neighbourhoods/villages, regeneration of Lowestoft waterfront and economic growth including through Freeport East, alongside a high number of nationally significant energy and infrastructure projects such as the Sizewell C nuclear power station. It is an exciting time to join the Planning Policy and Delivery Team. We are starting work on a new Local Plan for the district, which we will be preparing in the new plan-making system, providing an opportunity not only to be involved in planning future strategies for growth for the district but to also shape and navigate the new opportunities presented by the reforms to the plan-making system. We are also working closely with other local planning authorities in Suffolk on our Local Plans, which provides further opportunities for innovative approaches to evidence gathering and plan preparation. As a key member of our Planning Policy and Delivery Team, you will play a central and highly influential role in shaping the long‑term future of East Suffolk. This is an opportunity to be at the heart of preparing our new Local Plan, working closely with local communities, Members, partner organisations and neighbouring authorities. You will also shape and drive our approach to Neighbourhood Planning - supporting communities to bring forward Neighbourhood Plans, while embedding strong project management processes and robust internal systems. This role offers significant scope to influence place‑shaping, lead complex and high profile projects, strengthen internal systems and shape high quality development across East Suffolk. The introduction of Spatial Development Strategies also provides an opportunity to represent the Council’s input to strategic planning matters. In this pivotal Principal Planner role, you will lead and inspire a skilled team of planning professionals and technical staff, overseeing the preparation, monitoring and delivery of Local Plans and guidance documents. As a senior member of the Planning Policy and Delivery team, you will manage and motivate talented colleagues, take a leading role in recruitment and development, oversee performance and deliver continuous improvement. This is an exceptional opportunity to work with a dedicated and collaborative team committed to delivering high‑quality outcomes. The essential requirements for this role include a relevant and accredited Degree in Town and Country Planning, along with full Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or being at a stage where APC submission is realistically achievable within six months of appointment. You will demonstrate a strong commitment to your own professional development and actively support the growth and development of others. You must also be mobile and have access to a car to attend meetings across a variety of sites and locations. 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, we want to hear from you and look forward to having the opportunity to consider your application. 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 Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays). Local government pension scheme. Flexible working arrangements. Learning and development tailored to your role. A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes. Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services. Find more information about what we offer in our benefits brochure (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 Andrea McMillan, Planning Manager (Policy and Delivery), by either calling on 01394 444567 or emailing andrea.mcmillan@eastsuffolk.gov.uk Closing date: 1.00 pm, 27 February 2026. Interview date: 18 and 19 March 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