Are you an experienced and visionary planning professional ready to lead strategic initiatives that will shape the future of a vibrant community? West Lancashire Borough Council is seeking a dynamic Principal Planning Officer (Strategic Planning) to join our Planning Services team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the development of our new Local Plan and to play a key role in our strategic planning efforts.

Why Us?

Our Planning Service is making significant strides, driven by a commitment to excellence and innovation. Following a series of well-deserved promotions and a renewed focus on investing in our team's development, we are proud to say that our service is stronger and more capable than ever.

As we continue to enhance our skill set and expand our professional team, we are eager to build on this progress by securing the services of more excellent, hard-working, and committed professionals. Together, we remain dedicated to delivering outstanding service to the community, ensuring that West Lancashire remains a place where sustainable growth and heritage preservation go hand in hand-and we are hiring!

Your Role!

As the Principal Planning Officer (Strategic Planning), you will:

Lead and Manage: Support the Strategic Planning Manager in managing the Planning Service, including overseeing and mentoring the Strategic Planning team.
Develop Key Policies: Play a crucial role in creating and implementing the new Local Plan and other planning policy documents.
Oversee Evidence Gathering: Manage the collection and analysis of evidence for the Local Plan, including overseeing consultant engagements.
Environmental Strategies: Lead the development of environmental planning strategies that align with the Local Plan and Council policies.
Enhance Processes: Review and improve planning processes to ensure adherence to best practices.
Collaborate Effectively: Work with other services and stakeholders to ensure alignment with strategic planning projects.
Engage with the Community: Lead public consultations and community engagement efforts, integrating stakeholder feedback into planning processes.
Provide Expert Advice: Offer specialised planning advice to the Development Control team on complex strategic issues.
Represent the Council: Prepare and present the Council's case at planning appeals and inquiries.
Why West Lancashire?

Impactful Work: Be at the heart of strategic planning efforts that will shape the future of West Lancashire.
Professional Growth: Benefit from opportunities for career development and training.
Collaborative Environment: Join a team committed to innovation and excellence in service delivery.
Community Focus: Contribute to creating a sustainable and thriving community.

Experience: Extensive experience in strategic planning with a proven track record in policy development and implementation.
Education: A degree in Town Planning or a related field, and membership in the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) is desirable.
Skills: Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and project management skills, with excellent communication abilities.
Passion: A commitment to sustainable development and effective community engagement.
What's in it for you?

We pride ourselves on our friendliness and being a good employer with a range of benefits and employment terms and conditions to suit you. A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement, flexible working, a generous employer pension contribution scheme, work life balance policies, and support for your personal development are just some of the benefits we offer.