Senior Planning Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Chichester; On-site; GBP 39,000 - GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Chichester is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to oversee diverse planning proposals and mentor junior team members. Candidates should have excellent communication skills and at least three years of relevant experience. The role requires dealing with complex applications and ensuring high-quality design that meets community needs. Employee benefits include flexible working arrangements, a pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Defined benefits Pension Scheme

Minimum 26 days holiday

Flexi-time

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Health & Wellbeing initiatives

Training and development opportunities

Staff Awards Scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years post-qualification experience.
• Experience dealing with complex planning applications.
• Commitment to customer care and community needs.

Responsibilities

• Mentor junior team members.
• Lead in planning appeals and present at Planning Committee.
• Provide planning advice and handle applications.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Team player

Mentoring experience

Proactive problem-solving

Education

Qualified planner

Job description

Senior Planning Officer

Salary - £39,862 to £44,075 (plus £3,000 per annum premia payment, a £3,000 recruitment payment and £1,239 per annum essential car user allowance)

Are you looking for a new career opportunity or to broaden your planning experience with the challenges of working in a District which not only has a thriving economy and pressures for growth, but also covers part of the South Downs National Park, the natural beauty of the Chichester Harbour National Landscape and a rich and varied heritage, including the historic City of Chichester?

Chichester District is a highly attractive place to live and work, home to many historic towns and villages, surrounded by beautiful countryside. Centred on the historic cathedral city of Chichester, it is a large district stretching from the south coast to the Surrey border and includes a large part of the South Downs National Park and the tranquil Chichester Harbour National Landscape.

We are a busy planning service dealing with a varied range of development management work. This includes providing planning advice; dealing with planning applications and appeals; and planning enforcement. We have three area application teams, including a team that deals specifically with sites within the South Downs National Park (SDNP); a separate enforcement team; and a central administration team. All applications teams deal with a range of major and minor developments.

As a Senior Planning Officer within the SDNP DM team you will deal with an exciting and varied range of proposals, you will be responsible for mentoring junior members of the team, presenting items to Planning Committee and taking a leading role in appeals. You will be expected to demonstrate a high regard for performance, while securing high quality design.

We are looking for planners who can be tasked with securing the highest quality design to protect these important assets, while meeting the growing needs of our communities. You can be assured that you will be joining a team of committed and enthusiastic planners, with a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.

The posts are suitable for qualified and experienced planners with excellent communication skills. You should have a minimum of three years post qualification experience. Ideally, we are looking for planners with previous experience of dealing with complex planning applications. Providing excellent customer care is important to us. We are seeking planners who have a desire to develop and learn; are excellent team players; proactive; and committed to meeting the needs of our customers.

So, if you enjoy working with people; have a passion for finding solutions; and want to make a positive difference to people’s lives and our beautiful district, then please get in touch.

For an informal discussion about these positions, please contact: Fjola Stevens (Divisional Manager) [e-mail] 01243 534557 or John Saunders (Development Manager) [e-mail] 01243 534574

Interviews to take place w/c 2nd March 2026.

Employee benefits include:

• Excellent defined benefits Pension Scheme
• Minimum 26 days holiday going up to 31 days after 5 years (or before with previous service) plus paid Bank Holidays
• Flexi-time (available for most positions) - potential to build up an extra 12 days leave a year
• Flexible working arrangements including working from home and 9-day fortnight options
• Employee Assistance Programme for staff and their relatives
• Cycle to Work Scheme/Car and Cycle Loan Scheme/discounted city centre parking/ Lease Car Scheme
• Health & Wellbeing initiatives including free health checks and free eye tests plus subsidised leisure centre membership
• Payment of your main professional subscription fee
• Training and development opportunities – including funding of professional qualification training
• Staff Awards Scheme

Chichester District Council has a commitment to Equality of Opportunity in Employment. If you have a disability which makes it difficult for you to complete our application form please contact the HR Section who will assist you.

To apply please click on the 'apply button'

Closing date: 23rd February 2026.

Attachments

• Senior Planning Officer - About the Vacancy - Jan 2026
• Senior Planning Officer - Job Profile - Jan 2026