Principal Planning Officer

Salary: £46,142 - £48,226

Hours per week: 37 hours 

Interview date: Monday 8 December 2025

Planning - Shaping Tomorrow's Communities Today  

Our Strategic Planning Service comprises teams working on exciting projects like reviewing the Local Plan, preparing our Minerals and Waste plans, determining planning applications for minerals and waste developments, supporting our communities to produce Neighbourhood Plans, and measuring the performance of our development plans.

As an established unitary authority, we can offer the following opportunity to develop your specialist knowledge of minerals and waste planning and shape the future of a thriving county with so much to offer.

As a Principal Planning Officer, you'll support the team managers in the delivery of the council's plan-making duties as a minerals and waste planning authority. You will have a lead part in policy formulation, making the link between the need to supply minerals to build the required new homes and infrastructure in Wiltshire and providing the facilities to manage the waste these will produce. You'll work collaboratively with officers across the council and liaise with industry and neighbouring authorities to ensure policies align with national policy and reflect local needs and environmental priorities. Your creativity and project management skills will be key, as will engaging communities and stakeholders, to support appropriate and sustainable development in Wiltshire.

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. That is why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right. As part of our agile and high-performing team, you will enjoy:

• Flexible working.
• Hybrid working arrangements with modern, open-plan offices.
• 26 days annual leave entitlement, rising to 31 days after five years' service, plus six bank holidays and two public holidays per year. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Career development opportunities.

Explore more benefits here

New to Wiltshire?

Wiltshire's rich heritage, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant communities make it a fantastic place to live and work.  Located in the South West region, we border Bath, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Almost half of our county is designated a National Landscape, and we are home to the cathedral city of Salisbury and iconic world heritage sites of Stonehenge and Avebury.

Application process

Please download and read the role description and person specification carefully before you apply as well as Our Identity. 

The council is committed to creating an environment of positive working relationships where everyone feels engaged, supported and able to thrive. Our Identity is a framework which sets out how we are all expected to lead, work and act to deliver our services. We will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment of any kind. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect which is underpinned by our vision and Our Identity framework.

Please ensure that, if you are submitting a CV, your Cover Letter includes how you meet the essential criteria of the role description, why you are applying for the role, and what skills you would bring.

We understand that AI tools can support candidates in preparing job applications. However, at Wiltshire Council we value authenticity and encourage applicants to ensure their submissions genuinely reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations.

For more details, please contact Jason Day, Planning Manager (Minerals and Waste), at , or call

This role may be subject to certain successful security checks; please see the role description for more information.