Principal Planning Liaison Officer

Some key information

• This role offers hybrid working, allowing you to work either from home, with agreement from the manager, or from one of our offices
• 30 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• You will join a team passionate and committed to transforming our communities through high quality, safe and accessible development, whilst working to create desirable places for people to live and work as part of Somerset's ambitious growth plans
• The contract offered is permanent and on a full time (37 hours) basis

What will I be doing?

We're working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you'll be a key part of that. You would act on behalf of the Highway Authority to provide highways advice on planning applications to the Local Planning Authority as well as to developers, councillors, and other interested parties. You would be the lead officer in providing advice on a range of development proposals which you would consider to be diverse, including new housing developments and key urban extensions, new business parks and employment sites, retail areas and regeneration zones. As well as providing advice on policy and guidance for planning authorities and developers.

The range of opportunities is both challenging and rewarding. Somerset provides the opportunity to get involved in some of the UK's most high-profile growth initiatives including, new garden communities, housing infrastructure fund, enterprise zones, and national infrastructure projects such as Hinkley Point C.

Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Providing advice and guidance to colleagues, managers as well as to developers on a wide range of highways development management issues during both pre-application consultation and the planning process.
• Agreeing the scope of technical assessments that developers need to undertake to assess the impacts of new development.
• Negotiating and securing highway works and contributions through legal agreements.
• Undertaking investigations into planning/political/technical issues.
• Providing advice to senior managers on highway development management matters.
• Developing and providing professional guidance to other members of the team.
• Representing the Highway Authority at planning committees as well as providing evidence at planning appeals and public inquiries.
• Contributing to development and delivery of the Groups service improvement plan.
• Engaging and building relationships with a range of parties including planning authorities, developers, agents and legal advisors.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:

• Are educated to degree level or equivalent through relevant professional development.
• Have experience of working within the planning system preferably with highways development management experience.
• Possess the ability to work to deadlines and manage multiple case concurrently.
• Can prepare observations and communicate them clearly and unambiguously in writing and verbally to a range of audiences.
• Possess the ability to assess the implications of proposals and work with people to develop appropriate solutions.

We're proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there's anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What's in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

Anything else I should know?

The salary for the role is Grade 9, ranging from £40,476 to £44,711 per annum.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Jon Fellingham on or

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can't wait to hear from you.

Job Reference: SCC05487