Lead Planning Officer (Development Management)

Northamptonshireparks; Kettering; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental authority in Kettering seeks a Lead Planning Officer to manage development applications and engage with stakeholders. This role requires a relevant degree or experience to qualify for chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Successful candidates will oversee operations, ensuring compliance with national and local performance targets, while benefiting from a vibrant work environment with generous leave and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Pension scheme with significant employer contribution

Generous leave entitlement (28-33 days)

Hybrid working arrangements

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Comprehensive track record in managing a full range of planning applications.
• Experience of supporting and overseeing others in planning proposals.
• Experience working at a senior level in a Local Planning Authority.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee day-to-day operations and manage assigned employees.
• Ensure delivery of Development Management service meets performance targets.
• Utilize planning knowledge for large-scale developments.

Skills

Planning applications management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

Relevant degree or experience for chartered membership of RTPI

Job description

Lead Planning Officer (Development Management)

North Northamptonshire Council is a product of local government reorganisation which took place across Northamptonshire in 2021. We have brought together the four former district and borough and county Local Planning Authority planning functions and working through a transformation programme to create a single high-performing planning service for North Northamptonshire.

North Northamptonshire is a high-growth area offering an exciting opportunity for professional development. We are working on preparing a new Local Plan to provide a spatial vision for the whole area. We are delivering sustainable urban extensions in differing phases of development, a wealth of large commercial and industrial development proposals and everything in between. This is a role that can offer a breadth of opportunities to utilise your knowledge and experience, in a job that is both challenging and rewarding.

Please note Interviews will take place on 21st / 22nd January 2026

What will you be doing?

In this dynamic role you will play a vital part in supporting the effective delivery of North Northamptonshire’s planning functions. You will be at the forefront of providing customer service, engaging with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including members of the public, applicants and councillors, ensuring every interaction reflects our commitment to the future of our area.

You will be joining us at an exciting time as we implement our new team structure, come together in new headquarter offices, and roll-out new planning software and ways of working. Working as a Lead Planning Officer you will be at the at the forefront of supporting initiatives be part of our continuing transformation and improvement journey, influencing the evolution of our service.

You will direct and overseeing all day-to-day operations and manage assigned employees. You will lead a team structured to ensure that those staff assigned to you can benefit from the support and guidance you can offer, as you help them achieve their potential.

Your principal responsibilities will be focused on delivery of the Development Management service, for example ensuring that national and local performance targets are met. You will also be expected to utilise your planning knowledge and experience, to work with others on largescale and high-profile developments.

About you

You will hold a relevant degree and qualifications or have the appropriate experience that would allow you to be eligible for chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent).

You will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive track record of both:

(i) being responsible for a full range of planning applications, including largescale/complex proposals; and

(ii) of supporting and overseeing the work of others to deliver on a range of planning proposals.

You will have experience of working at a senior level for a Local Planning Authority.

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28days, rising to 33days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

Disability Confident Employer

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)

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