Senior Planning Policy Officer

Location: Gloucester
Contract: Interim

About the role

Our client is a local planning authority in Gloucester, seeking an experienced Senior Planning Policy Officer to join its planning policy function on an interim basis. The role will support the development, review and delivery of the local planning policy framework at a time when strategic planning work remains a priority for the authority.

The successful candidate will take a lead role on policy projects, contributing to local plan preparation, supplementary planning documents and the evidence base that underpins them. Working closely with development management colleagues, elected members, neighbouring authorities and external stakeholders, they will help ensure planning policy is robust, deliverable and aligned with national planning legislation and guidance.

This is a hands-on position suited to a planning professional who can pick up live workstreams quickly and work with a good degree of autonomy. The successful candidate will also be a point of guidance for more junior team members, sharing technical knowledge and helping to keep projects moving to deadline.

Main responsibilities

• Lead on the preparation, review and monitoring of local plan policies and related planning documents
• Prepare and manage supplementary planning documents, planning guidance and topic-based policy papers
• Commission, manage and interpret evidence base studies, including housing, employment, retail, infrastructure and environmental assessments
• Manage public consultation and stakeholder engagement, including analysing and responding to representations
• Provide policy advice to development management colleagues, and support on major and complex applications where required
• Contribute to Duty to Cooperate discussions with neighbouring authorities and statutory bodies
• Support neighbourhood planning groups with guidance and technical advice
• Prepare authority monitoring reports and maintain up-to-date policy data
• Write clear reports for committee, cabinet and examination purposes
• Support the authority through local plan examination processes where needed
• Offer day-to-day guidance to planning policy colleagues and help manage team workloads

Requirements

Essential

• Substantial experience in a planning policy role within a local authority or comparable environment
• Degree or postgraduate qualification in town planning or a related discipline
• Sound working knowledge of the National Planning Policy Framework, planning legislation and the local plan process
• Experience of managing evidence base work, consultation exercises and policy documents from draft to adoption
• Strong report writing skills, with the ability to explain technical planning matters to non-specialist audiences
• Confident stakeholder management skills, including work with elected members and the public
• Ability to manage a varied workload and deliver to deadlines

Desirable

• Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), or working towards it
• Experience of supporting a local plan through examination
• Familiarity with GIS and planning data tools
• Experience of neighbourhood planning or infrastructure planning

The offer

• Interim position based in Gloucester
• Working pattern to be confirmed with candidates
• Rate and contract length to be confirmed with candidates
• The chance to contribute to live planning policy work for a local authority

If you are an experienced planning policy professional looking for an interim role where you can take ownership of strategic policy work in Gloucester, this position offers a clear brief and meaningful projects. Apply below.