Principal Strategic Planner

Principal Strategic Planner | 9357 | Permanent Contract | 37 hours per week | £50,166 to £54,277 per annum (Scale L) | County Hall, Norwich

Norfolk is playing a pivotal role in meeting the economic, housing and clean power needs of the Country. It is essential that a positive, proactive and collaborative approach is taken to planning for the County's future, ensuring that the development brought forward is well planned and that key infrastructure is effectively delivered to support it. 

To help us deliver these outcomes, Norfolk County Council is looking for a new Principal Strategic Planner to join our Infrastructure and Development group, working within the Strategic Planning Team.

As part of Norfolk County Council's Growth and Infrastructure Directorate, you will: oversee Norfolk County Council's responses to statutory planning consultations, in accordance with the Duty to Cooperate on Local & Neighbourhood Plans; be responsible for the day-to-day management of the County's planning obligations case work; oversee the monitoring of planning obligation requirements and support the work of the County's Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects team. These activities will ensure that the County Council's interests are fully represented, necessary infrastructure requirements provided for and that the full local impacts of NSIPs are duly assessed and that all possible benefits are explored and maximised. 

This successful candidate will also have opportunities to engage in the early stages of preparation for the new system of strategic planning across local authority boundaries, as the County Council prepares for the implementation of the changes set out in the Planning and Infrastructure and English Devolution Bills.    

You will be a qualified planner who has a comprehensive knowledge of the planning system, significant post qualification experience in planning, excellent communication and organisational skills and a well-developed ability to operate in a political environment on often contentious and complex matters, with a demonstrable ability to collaborate with elected members, partners, and other organisations. 

Applications for the position on a part-time or reduced hours basis will be considered for the right candidate. 

For more information, or to discuss the role, please initially contact Paul Harris, Strategic Planning Manager, via email at  or on

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary

• Generous holiday entitlement

• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service

• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependent on your job role and business need. 

• Financial benefits such as:

  • 'Norfolk Rewards' our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.   

  • A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers

  • Relocation expenses (where applicable)

  • An advance of your expenses if you travel for work

  • Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants' pensions

  • Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes

  • Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)

  • A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

We want our people to be inspired and motivated to work well together, make the most of our workspaces, enjoy a healthy work-life balance, and deliver excellent services to Norfolk and its people. Flexibility is built into the way we work, with hybrid working a key feature for many roles. Our technology platform and equipment are first class, enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We ask that you have in place good Broadband connectivity.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job description and person specification to help you demonstrate how you meet the criteria. You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for all internal and external vacancies via myOracle using your or email.

Redeployment closing date: 10 December :59

All other applicants closing date: 17 December :59