North Northamptonshire Council
Principal Planning Policy Officer
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Principal Planning Policy Officer
Principal Planning Policy Officer – Shape the Future of Our Places
About the Role
North Northamptonshire Council, formed in 2021 through local government reorganisation, brings together planning functions from across Northamptonshire. This high-growth area now offers an exciting opportunity for professional development, with a strong history in plan-making and a transformative vision ahead.
We are preparing a new Local Plan under the updated planning system, shaping a spatial vision for the entire region. Alongside this, we are delivering sustainable urban extensions, large commercial and industrial developments, and protecting our rural environments, while advancing an active programme of neighbourhood planning.
This role provides broad career development opportunities, offering both challenging and rewarding work at the heart of planning policy and transformation.
What You’ll Do
As a Principal Planning Policy Officer, you will be a key contributor to supporting North Northamptonshire’s planning policy functions within a dynamic sense of purpose. Your responsibilities will include:
-
Supporting the effective delivery of planning policy initiatives, including:
- The preparation and implementation of the new Local Plan.
- Ongoing planning policy services, including neighbourhood planning, policy responses to planning applications and consultations, master planning, and coordinating planning support for capital projects.
-
Providing excellent customer service, engaging with:
- The public
- Various agencies
- Councillors
- Other stakeholders
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
-
Ensuring the delivery of nationally significant growth to the highest planning standards.
-
Playing a key role in our ongoing transformation and improvement journey, shaping the future of our service.
Additionally, you will contribute to the new team structure, provide guidance to junior colleagues, and participate in project teams as part of the "Development Team" approach, ensuring effective handling of large-scale, high-profile developments.
About You
We are seeking a Principal Planning Policy Officer who holds:
- A relevant degree and qualifications or equivalent experience, enabling eligibility for chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
- Extended experience in plan-making and the management or delivery of planning policy projects, including large-scale/complex proposals.
- In-depth knowledge of the English planning system, covering:
- Planning legislation.
- The National Planning Policy Framework and best practice guidance.
You must be tenacious in delivering excellent customer service—often under pressure—and demonstrating both initiative and collaboration.
Our Benefits
At North Northamptonshire Council, we are reimagining councils for the future, ensuring the best lives for our residents through creativity and innovation.
You will benefit from:
- A competitive salary.
- A generous pension scheme, including life cover and ill-health protection.
- Vast career development opportunities within a large unitary council.
- Generous leave entitlement: 28 days (~33 days with progression), plus bank holidays and the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable, to support a healthy work-life balance.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Additional benefits include:
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Employee Benefits Scheme.
- Ongoing wellbeing support.
- Travel rates at HMRC-compliant levels.
- Support for active Employee Network Groups (and more).
About Us
Our Values and Behaviours are fundamental to how we interact and operate:
✔ Customer-focused ✔ Respectful ✔ Efficient ✔ Supportive ✔ Trustworthy
These guide all decision-making and service delivery while maintaining a broad focus on what is most impactful.
Disability Confident Employer
We commit to an inclusive recruitment process, offering interviews to disabled applicants meeting essential criteria. Our Employment and Disability Service (EADS) supports individuals overcoming barriers to employment.
Armed Forces Community
As a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold awarding authority, we are proud to support the armed forces community.
For further details, visit North Northamptonshire Council Jobs.
Apply today to join a council dedicated to shaping the future of North Northamptonshire!
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills