Senior Planning Officer

Overview

By joining us as a Senior Planning Officer working in Development Management at Buckinghamshire Council, not only will you be offered a competitive benefits package, you’ll also be part of a team working on a broad range of planning cases, committed to shaping the future of Buckinghamshire for generations to come.

Career development is something we take seriously at Bucks; we love nothing more than seeing our colleagues grow with us, with many members of the team progressing quickly as they gain more experience and responsibilities within their specialist areas. We are committed to building an exceptional Development Management Team, utilising our colleagues’ talent, and making the most of what they have to offer. With a strong and supportive senior management team behind you, you’ll play a key part in helping us achieve our Planning and Environment Business plan and assist in driving forward our vision as a large and diverse unitary authority.

If you are interested in an informal discussion with our planning team, prior to applying, we are holding an open afternoon at our Gateway offices in Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, on Tuesday 25th November and Friday 5th December between 12 – 4.30pm. All level of planners will be available to have an in-person chat with you about any of the above roles. No appointment is necessary: just turn up at the offices and we will ensure that a member of the planning team is on hand to tell you more about the role(s), show you around the office , answer any questions that you might have and highlight to you why Buckinghamshire is such a great place to work and live.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate work with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

About the role

As a Senior Planner, you will be responsible for managing and determining complex planning applications and lead on providing professional advice through all stages of the planning process, including PPAs, S106 negotiations and planning appeals, providing a high-quality service that is responsive to customer demands. You will work collaboratively with colleagues including through mentoring and utilising delegated powers to sign-off applications.

The role is based in our Development Management Team 3, based within the middle of the County and offers a wide range of opportunities across both urban and rural environments. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are therefore essential to the role. This is a highly rewarding and fulfilling role - you’ll see the impact of your work in front of you.

Our transformation to a unitary council has created diverse and multi-disciplined opportunities across the service. Danika Hird, one of our Principal Planning officers recently promoted from a Senior Planning Officer role said,

“I have worked for the Council for the last 6 years and have been given lots of opportunities to progress my career here. If you want to work at a senior level on planning applications and mentor junior officers this is a great opportunity. The diversity of applications that we deal with is what sets us apart from other councils!”

If you’re eager to make a real difference in a forward-thinking council and develop your career in a vibrant, supportive environment, this is the perfect opportunity to join us.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

Extensive experience in Development Management is a must in this position, and you should apply if:

• You have excellent interpersonal, persuasion and negotiation skills
• You have experience of working collaboratively across service areas
• You have experience of mentoring staff and signing-off applications
• You are commercially focused and enjoy building new relationships, with the welfare of our residents at the heart of what you do, and 

You have membership of, or eligibility, or working towards membership of the RTPI .

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Working arrangements: In Development Management we operate a 40:60 working arrangement, whereby you will be expected to be in the office two days per week. This is for everyone to collaborate with colleagues, attend team meetings & training events, or simply just take the opportunity to work more closely with and learn from each other.

We actively encourage our colleagues to adopt a flexible working approach and take control of their work-life balance. This vacancy is flexible, and part-time work will be considered. The role will be based in our High Wycombe offices but working in our Aylesbury offices is also encouraged.

Proposed interview dates: Thursday 18th, Friday 19th and Monday 22nd December 2025

Interview type: In person at our Gateway Offices in Aylesbury. 

Contact details: For an informal chat about this role in more detail, please contact Mark Aughterlony on 01494 732142 / [email protected] This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire.  We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

 Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

 It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/