Planning Officers

Help us shape our places and your career.

Hertsmere lies within southern Hertfordshire bordering the northern edge of Greater London. We have a unique combination of economic opportunities alongside a diverse townscape, villages and extensive areas of green belt land, meaning the borough provides an exciting opportunity to experience every aspect of the planning system. We are the home for creative industries including Elstree Studios, BBC Elstree and Sky Studios Elstree. It also has Elstree Aerodrome, med-tech companies and other key sectors supporting the local and wider economy.

We want to show our residents and businesses that planners, with a positive focus on quality and infrastructure, can deliver change in a way that makes their lives better.  We are looking for several talented planning officers across various levels whom have the drive and ambition to help us deliver an excellent service with an aim to be the leading Development Management service in Hertfordshire, alongside a true desire to shape and improve the borough.

We are bringing forward an innovative growth programme delivered through our emerging new Local Plan. We are working closely with our public and private sector partners to deliver new growth opportunities in our towns and villages whilst striving to deliver a quality focused Development Management service which meets the needs of existing and future residents and continuing to deliver on our strong track record of timely and robust decision-making.  Our Development Management service are currently working on some exciting projects inclusive several large scale residential and commercial projects.

You will have shared responsibility for all aspects of development management processes including the handling of a varied caseload of applications including small householder, changes of use and new build proposals.  Subject to your experience or advancement, opportunity will be given to deal with more complex planning applications and issues.  Dependent on your level of experience you may also be expected to assist and guide more junior members of the team as well as provide support to management staff.

You will be a town planner with relevant experience, managing a range of competing demands with initiative. Strong interpersonal skills are essential. Good organisational, communication, and IT skills are also required, including the ability to prioritise and allocate work to meet deadlines.

All posts are offered on a full time (36 hours per week) basis however there is the potential for a job share opportunity (18 hours per week) at Planning Officer level.

Benefits include:

• 35–40 days annual leave (this includes bank holidays and one Christmas closure day (depending on the length of Local Government Service)
• Local government pension scheme
• Flexible working hours
• Opportunity to accrue credit hours that can be taken off later as extra leave (up to 2 days per month)
• Free car parking
• Free gym membership
• Cycle scheme & free Beryl Bike scheme
• Season ticket loans

The Council operates a hybrid working system where employees may work three days per week from home.

*Career Grade Scheme

Applicants who wish to study to do an undergraduate or post-graduate planning degree will be provided with on-the-job training and subject to any budgetary restrictions, be sponsored to undertake the appropriate University course, including day release.

Closing date:     Midnight, 18^th May 2025

Interviews:         Week commencing: 27^th May 2025 (noting the 26^th is a Bank Holiday)