Senior Planner

**East Suffolk Council, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ or Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1RT**:

- **Senior Planner: £42,708 - £46,731 (or Assistant Planner / Planner: £30,559 - £41,511 per annum (career grade))**:

- **37 hours per week**:

- **Permanent**

With a population of a quarter of a million people, East Suffolk is a large and diverse district, ranging from the significant port towns of Felixstowe and Lowestoft, to picturesque market towns, to stunning countryside and coastline, with a substantial part of the area falling within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Working alongside several other planning professionals in the team you will have a key role in the preparation, monitoring, implementation and interpretation of Local Plans and guidance documents, as well as supporting communities in preparing and delivering Neighbourhood Plans.

It is an exciting time to join us in East Suffolk. There are already ambitious plans for growth coming forward across the district including new garden neighbourhoods and villages, regeneration projects and economic growth, alongside several nationally significant energy and infrastructure projects. Alongside this, the delivery of a variety of residential and employment development sites, enhancing and sustaining market towns, supporting rural areas and addressing coastal change are just some of the planning challenges and opportunities in the district.

We will shortly be starting work on a new Local Plan for East Suffolk. Joining our team now, you will be involved in the preparation of the Local Plan from the outset, helping to shape the strategy and direction in planning for future growth and balancing the variety of considerations that a diverse district brings.

At **Planner** level (£34,314 - £41,511 pa) you would be involved in a similar range and breadth of exciting projects and be expected to lead on and manage some projects; however, post-qualification experience is not necessary and you will be supported by the Senior and Principal Planners in the team.

The **Assistant Planner** role provides an opportunity for you to attain a planning post-graduate qualification providing access to progress to Planner level and to become a full member of the RTPI. At Assistant Planner level (£30,559 - £33,366 pa), you would also be involved in a similar range and breadth of projects, at an appropriate level and with the support of senior members of the team to develop your knowledge and skills.

In addition to the rural and urban diversity of East Suffolk itself, the district is close to the large urban centres of both Norwich and Ipswich, with rail services providing access to the Council’s offices by train. **We might be 'on the edge' but we can be accessed easily from a wide area (jpg)**and offer flexible and remote working in a dynamic team.

**Why work for us?**

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, **take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work (YouTube)**.

**Here are some of the main benefits**:

- Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
- Local government pension scheme
- Flexible working arrangements
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes
- Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services

Find more information about what we offer in our **benefits brochure (pdf)**.

**For more information**

**Closing date: 1.00pm, 12 March 2025**

**Interview date: w/c 31March 2025**

**How to apply**

**Step 1 -**Read the advert and the **Senior Planner Job Description and Person Specification (docx)** or **Assistant Planner / Planner Job Description and Person Specification (docx)**

**Step 2 -**Complete the **Supporting Statement template (docx)**. Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.