OR120705 – Planning Officer

PAYE Pay Rate: £24.84 per hour

Main Purpose of the Role

The Planning Officer will support the delivery of Barnet Council’s Planning and Building Control service, ensuring work is completed efficiently, cost-effectively and to the required quality and performance standards.

The role is general within the planning service, with officers expected to lead on specific areas of work. A rotation programme allows officers to gain experience across different planning specialisms and contribute to the Council’s wider planning objectives.

Typical Day Overview

• Managing and progressing planning-related work within the assigned team or specialism.

• Reviewing planning applications, documents and supporting information, depending on the area of responsibility.

• Providing advice and guidance on planning matters to relevant stakeholders.

• Liaising with colleagues, applicants, residents and other relevant parties.

• Monitoring workloads and ensuring work meets agreed deadlines and performance standards.

• Supporting different areas of the planning service through the rotation programme.

• Attending meetings and travelling when required to deliver Council services.

• Working collaboratively with the wider Planning and Building Control team.

Key Skills and Responsibilities

• Planning Support: Contribute to the effective delivery of the Council’s planning service.

• Case Management: Manage and progress assigned areas of planning work.

• Communication: Provide clear information and liaise professionally with colleagues and stakeholders.

• Organisation: Manage workloads, prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.

• Performance Management: Deliver work in line with agreed quality standards and performance targets.

• Teamwork: Work across different planning specialisms as part of the rotation programme.

• Problem-Solving: Assess planning issues and identify appropriate solutions within the assigned area.

• Service Improvement: Contribute to delivering services efficiently and cost-effectively.

• Flexibility: Adapt to different responsibilities and travel outside the borough when required.

Essential Requirements and Qualifications

• Experience in planning, town planning or a related local authority service.

• Understanding of planning processes and relevant procedures.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Commitment to quality, performance standards and cost-effective service delivery.

• Flexibility to work across different planning specialisms.

• Ability to attend the office on fixed days and travel when required.