Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

About The Role

Senior Planning Enforcement Officer
£41,424 - £44,624 per annum
Permanent | 37 hours per week | Hybrid working
Location: Coleford
Forest of Dean District Council

Forest of Dean District Council is seeking an experienced Senior Planning Enforcement Officer to join our Development Management service within the Communities and Place Directorate.

Set within one of the UK's most distinctive landscapes, the Forest of Dean offers an exceptional planning context ranging from historic woodlands and market towns to innovative regeneration and renewable energy projects. You will work within the planning team seeking to ensure that this unique area is protected from inappropriate development and that planning permissions deliver their intended benefits to the local community and environment. 

This is a key senior role, taking the lead on complex and sensitive planning enforcement matters to protect the local environment, uphold planning standards, and safeguard the reputation of the Local Planning Authority. You will manage enforcement cases from investigation through to resolution, including appeals and prosecution where necessary, exercising sound professional judgement and a high level of technical expertise.

Working largely autonomously, you will undertake site visits, prepare clear and robust reports and case notes, negotiate outcomes with stakeholders, and provide expert advice to colleagues, councillors and customers. You will also play an important mentoring role, supporting junior officers and contributing to continuous service improvement.

This role offers variety, responsibility and the opportunity to make a genuine impact within a supportive and professional planning team.

You will need essential:

• A planning or related degree
• Eligibility for full Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
• Substantial professional experience in planning enforcement (typically 5+ years)
• Experience of leading complex enforcement cases, including appeals and prosecution
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to resolve complex issues calmly and confidently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage your own caseload independently and meet statutory deadlines
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues, stakeholders and elected members
• Competence using a range of IT systems, including Microsoft Office and Teams

Desirable:

• Chartered Membership of RTPI (MRTPI)
• Knowledge or experience of project management
• Membership or eligibility for membership of a relevant professional body

Special Conditions

• Hybrid working is available, with a minimum of one day per week in the office
• Regular site visits across the district are required
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes is essential
• Some additional hours may be required in line with service needs

What we can do for you

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
• In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements 

About The Organisation

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity. 

We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital. 

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email. 

Forest of Dean District Council is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities.

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references;  proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.