Principal Planning Officer

Who You Are

You are a highly skilled and experienced planning professional with a degree or equivalent level of technical knowledge in planning or a related field. You have significant experience in managing major and complex cases and are adept at navigating a large and complex corporate and political environment. As a natural leader, you excel at taking ownership of tasks and are committed to personal development and continuous professional improvement.

What the job involves

As a Principal Planning Officer, you are responsible for overseeing a proactive, customer-focused development management service. You will manage a diverse caseload of planning applications, including complex and major applications, and provide planning advice to a wide range of stakeholders. Your role involves attending and presenting at Planning Committees, managing statutory procedures, negotiating community benefits from development proposals, and ensuring compliance with legislation and council policies. You will also mentor and guide less experienced staff and work collaboratively with internal and external partners on strategic planning and enforcement cases.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of planning legislation and regulations
• Experience in managing major development proposals
• Excellent customer care and negotiation skills
• Ability to lead and mentor a team
• Effective organisational and time management skills
• Strong presentation and report writing skills
• Proficient in IT systems, especially Microsoft Office
• Ability to analyse information and make informed decisions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage challenging behaviour calmly and constructively