Protect it. Shape it. Enjoy it. Come to Dorset and be a part of it
Dorset is a beautiful and iconic area, with historic market towns, wonderful countryside and miles of stunning coast as well as a place of innovation and growth.
We are a bold and ambitious council, taking Dorset into the future – and our Planning team is taking centre stage.
It’s a great council to work for, and you will be joining a friendly, supportive team.
Employee benefits include a local government pension, generous annual leave allowance, flexible working and wellbeing support.
What’s in it for you:
This is your chance to take on a key role dealing with significant planning applications for minerals and waste development across the Dorset Council area.
Whether you have a background in minerals and waste or are an experienced planner looking for a change of direction, Dorset is an exciting place to be working in minerals and waste, with a wide and varied range of minerals, waste management technologies and environmental constraints.
Our main office base is in Dorchester but we are all set up for hybrid working and you can work remotely or in the office, as long as you can be available for necessary meetings and site visits.
What you can expect to be doing
In this role you will enjoy a complex and diverse caseload of minerals and waste planning applications, most likely focusing on the Isle of Portland where there is a wide range of issues to deal with, including the review of old minerals permissions and the implications of exciting potential developments in old quarry workings. You’ll be liaising and negotiating with planning applicants and consultees, preparing application reports and presenting them to committee, and acting as witness at appeal inquiries where necessary.
You’ll be working within a team of specialist minerals and waste planning officers, and liaising with a wide range of other planning, environmental, economic development and waste team colleagues.
About you
We’re looking for a qualified planner with relevant experience, preferably in minerals and waste development management, but you may have other planning experience that can be utilised in the role. It may be a good opportunity for an experienced development management officer who would welcome a change of direction.
You’ll be confident dealing with complex applications, including negotiating any necessary planning obligations, presenting applications to committee and representing the council at hearings and public inquiries.
Within the role, you will:
- manage a significant workload and meet challenging deadlines
- demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills
- present confidently to committees, inquiries and public forums
- understand democratic processes and public consultation
- work effectively within a team and advise others where required
- be adaptable and able to balance competing demands
- share our values of Respect, Together, Accountability, Openness and Curiosity
If you are motivated by complex planning challenges, public interest decision-making and shaping long-term policy in a unique county, this is an opportunity to develop your career within a specialist and supportive team.