Specialist Planning Enforcement Officer

Closing date: 30/12/2025

Reference: REQ106371

37 hours / Permanent

42, ,091 *

Penmorfa, Aberaeron

*All salary values are pro-rata.

About the role

The County of Ceredigion enjoys a rich and varied historic environment, comprising of over 1800 listed buildings, thirteen conservation areas, 11 registered parks and gardens and in excess of 200 scheduled ancient monuments.

We are therefore looking to recruit a suitably qualified, experienced, and highly motivated individual to join the Council's Development Management Service on a permanent, full-time basis, who will possess expertise in the historic building conservation field and who will act as a custodian of our built heritage and ensure the best outcomes for the preservation and enhancement of those assets.

More specifically, we are looking to recruit a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Council's new Planning Enforcement Team on a permanent, full-time basis, who would focus on enforcement matters in relation to the built heritage, focusing in particular on conservation areas and listed buildings.

Forming part of the Development Management Service, which deals with statutory duties and requirements under the Town and County Planning Acts and other related legislation, the postholder would play a key role in monitoring and regulating developments across the county and in particular would work to protect the county's heritage.

This is a particularly exciting time to join the Service as we are currently growing the planning enforcement team so that we can better deal with breaches of planning control across the County, so why not come join us as part of this new chapter?

On a day to day basis you will:

• help provide an effective, efficient, responsive and high quality enforcement and conservation service
• undertake the efficient and effective investigation of breaches of planning control within the County (specialising in built heritage cases) and utilise appropriate enforcement interventions as necessary and
• provide support to the wider Development Management Service

There may also be an opportunity for the postholder to deal with pre-application enquiries and planning applications arising from enforcement cases, although the bulk of the postholder's caseload would comprise of planning enforcement investigations.

We are looking to recruit an individual:

• who holds a degree, postgraduate qualification or equivalent in Town and Country Planning, Historic Building Conservation / Built Heritage, Architecture or related discipline or who possesses an equivalent combination of knowledge and experience of planning, built heritage or law enforcement
• who is fully qualified or working towards membership of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or equivalent professional body
• who has comprehensive and specialist knowledge and understanding of all heritage matters, including planning, listed building and conservation area legislation, policy guidance and circulars, best practice and case law, as well as knowledge of historic building design and construction
• who has comprehensive and specialist knowledge of planning and built heritage enforcement legislation and procedures
• who has an ability to balance the demands of the development sector and economic regeneration with the need to safeguard the County's heritage assets
• with an ability to communicate impartially, professionally and effectively with a wide range of people at various levels
• with an ability to work with limited supervision and to work to tight deadlines
• with an ability to effectively manage their own caseload of enforcement investigations and
• with a strong commitment to providing a high quality service to the public and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction

The post requires a degree of fluency in the Welsh language. Please note that a successful applicant without the required Welsh language skill will be fully supported to reach the required standard within two years of appointment.

We believe work-life balance is very important. To support you in achieving this, you will have access to the following discretionary benefits:

• Hybrid Working: Subject to certain conditions being met, you may choose to work from home or in an office location.
• Flexi-time: Hours may be worked within a defined bandwidth, Monday to Friday, subject to service needs.

You may also find further useful information on our careers website. Here you will find details in relation to what we can offer and what type of lifestyle you can expect. Indeed, Ceredigion is recognised as one of the safest places to live and work, with vibrant culture, excellent schools and beautiful coastlines and rolling countryside.

Job Description and Person Specification

For an informal discussion, please contact Catrin Newbold (Service Manager – Development Management) on Tel:

Note: We reserve the right to extend the application closing date.

What we offer

Work-life balance

Lifestyle savings scheme

Generous employer pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Learning and development

Where you'll work

Economy and Regeneration

We play a fundamental role in the delivery of the Council's key Corporate Strategy objective that seeks to boost the economy of the County and the Mid Wales region. We are organised into three main sections: Economy, Planning and Property Services. Our primary functions include:

• Growth and Enterprise: Supporting economic growth and regeneration locally and across the region; Growing Mid Wales; the Corporate Estate and Development Opportunities; Project Support; European and local funding; Food Centre Wales and supporting Agri-Food development; Tourism promotion and development; Tourist Information Centres; Coast and Countryside
• Planning Services: Supporting growth through Planning and Building Control Services; Strategic and Local Land Use Planning Policy; Development Management; Building Control; and Land Searches.
• Property Services: Supporting the Council's programme through Project Management; Property and Building Maintenance; Facilities Management; Carbon Management; and the Efficient Use of Council Property.

Penmorfa

Penmorfa is our most central office, it is where our Chief Executive and Councillors are based.

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Aberaeron

Aberaeron is a picture perfect harbour town and is one of Ceredigion's best loved holiday destinations with fashionable places to stay and eat.