Career Grade Planning Officer

Grade G to H Scp 23 £34,434 to Scp 31 £41,771

Contract 1 x Permanent & 1 x 2-year fixed term contract

Essential Requirements, Valid Current Driving Licence, A recognised degree in town planning, geography, transport, environmental science, or a related subject

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application

The Role:

We’re looking for two ambitious Planning Officers to join our Development Management team and help shape high-quality, sustainable development across the area. This is a career-graded role, offering genuine progression as your skills, confidence and professional judgement grow.

You’ll lead on assessing, negotiating and recommending planning applications from minor schemes to more significant and complex developments as you advance through the grades. You’ll prepare appeal statements, attend hearings, and provide clear, professional advice to applicants, colleagues and elected members.

You’ll play an active role in improving how we work, supporting service priorities, and building strong relationships with communities and partners. At higher grade, you’ll handle more challenging cases, manage sensitive customer issues and help guide junior team members.

This is your opportunity to contribute to high-quality development and play a key role in delivering our vision for the borough.

If you want to develop your planning career in a positive, forward-thinking service where your work has a real impact, we’d love to hear from you. Two posts are available within the team: a permanent, part time position doing 31 hours per week, and a full-time position doing 37 hours per week on a

2-year fixed term contract. Please specify your preference in your application.

If you would like an informal chat about this role please contact: Alex Allen, Planning Development Manager on: 07385 361838 / alex.allen@bolton.gov.uk

About You:

Our ideal candidate will be motivated, organised and confident taking responsibility for your own caseload. You’ll enjoy analysing proposals, finding solutions, and making well-reasoned planning decisions, even when things get busy. You’ll stay calm under pressure, and thrive in a changing and fast-paced environment, delivering a reliable, high-quality service

You will have a solid understanding of planning policy and legislation, strong communication skills, and the confidence to negotiate with applicants and explain your recommendations clearly. You’ll be able to build positive relationships with colleagues, communities and elected members and be comfortable representing the Council professionally.

We’re looking for someone to grow with the role, able to take on more responsibility as you progress, deal with increasingly complex work, and support others when needed. Most importantly, you’ll be adaptable, positive and passionate about delivering great outcomes for people and places.

About Us

This is your opportunity to join us at an exciting time as we have strong ambitions for the borough.

Bolton is a great place to work. We are a welcoming organisation that wants to contribute to a place where people feel active, connected and prosperous. We are passionate about improving the outcomes and experience of Bolton people. We want Bolton to be a vibrant place built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses and healthy, engaged residents.

As an employer we want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits, including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes. In addition, we offer a generous annual leave allowance, flexible work opportunities, access to a Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services.

Our Values are really important to us, read all about them below, along with all our great staff benefits, the job description/person specification for the role and the important legal bits, and our Top Tips too.

Ready to apply? Then please click Apply and explain how you meet the points on the person specification.

Within Greater Manchester, local authorities have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please see greater.jobs for further information before you apply.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English as per the person specification.

This organisation has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. That means we will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester local authority or NHS organisation that has signed the commitment, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority, giving you access to our service-related benefits. Please see the home page of greater.jobs for more information.

For more information about working for Bolton Council, please see greater.jobs; for advice and support with your application, contact recruitment@bolton.gov.uk