Principal Planning Officer

Grade J Scp 35 £46,142 to Scp 39 £50,269

Contract - Fixed Term Two Years

Essential Requirements, Current Valid Driving Licence, Qualifications - 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 an experienced and confident Principal Planning Officer to take a leading role in delivering major development, regeneration and place-making across the borough. The post is offered on a two-year fixed term contract.

This is a senior position within Development Management, with responsibility for handling the Council’s most complex planning applications and appeals, while providing clear leadership, direction and support to Planning Officers, graduates and apprentices.

You’ll lead high-profile schemes from pre-application stage through to decision, including negotiating complex proposals, securing Section 106 agreements, preparing robust committee reports and representing the Council at appeals, hearings and public inquiries. You’ll ensure decisions are well-reasoned, legally sound and delivered within agreed timescales.

Alongside casework, you’ll play a key role in shaping the service, supervising and mentoring staff, improving performance, driving service improvements, supporting income generation through charging regimes and Planning Performance Agreements, and fostering strong working relationships with various council services, colleagues and external partners and stakeholders, helping enhance the reputation of the Development Management service.

This is a high-impact role for someone who wants to shape outcomes, lead people, and influence the future of the borough.

If you have a keen interest in leading high-profile planning work and helping deliver high-quality, sustainable places for our communities, we’d love to hear from you.

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 an experienced planning professional with the confidence and credibility to lead on major and complex applications. You’ll bring strong technical knowledge, sound professional judgement and the ability to manage challenging negotiations, sensitive cases and competing priorities.

You will enjoy leading others, providing clear direction, supervising and mentoring planners at different stages of their careers, while maintaining high standards of performance, decision making and customer service.

You will communicate clearly and confidently, whether negotiating with developers, advising Members, presenting at committee or representing the Council at appeals and inquiries. You’ll be comfortable taking responsibility for financial matters, improving systems and processes, and driving continuous improvement across the service.

Above all, you will be proactive, resilient and motivated by delivering high-quality planning decisions that stand up to scrutiny, strengthen the service and make a lasting difference to the borough.

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