Salary: Grade 8, £63,528 per annum (which includes a time limited recruitment allowance of £14,426 per annum ending 28/02/2027.).
Shape the future of Somerset
Join Somerset Council – one of the largest unitary authorities in the country – and work on some of the most varied and high‑profile planning projects in the UK. From major regeneration and nationally significant infrastructure to town centres, rural development and housing growth, you’ll help shape places that matter.
Following local government reorganisation, we’re a single, ambitious council serving nearly 600,000 residents. Our scale and stability offer excellent career development across Development Management, Enforcement, Planning Policy, and Minerals & Waste – including work linked to Hinkley Point C and the Somerset-wide Local Plan.
You’ll join a collaborative, forward‑thinking planning service with embedded flexibility, strong professional support and real opportunities to grow.
What We Offer
- High‑profile, complex and varied planning enforcement work
- Clear career development and progression
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Supportive management and a strong learning culture
- Generous leave, pension and wellbeing benefits
If you want planning work that genuinely shapes communities and places, Somerset has something for you.
Role Summary
You will lead and manage two Development Management area teams, ensuring high‑quality, timely and lawful planning decisions across Somerset. The role provides strategic leadership, supports Planning Committees and helps drive service improvement.
What You'll Do - Key Responsibilities
- Lead two area planning teams and oversee complex planning applications.
- Act as lead officer at Area Planning Committees.
- Ensure performance targets, quality standards and income are achieved.
- Permanent position, 37 hours a week.
- This is a senior leadership role with significant responsibility, public visibility and influence across the Council and wider county, reporting to the Chief Planner.
- Flexible and Hybrid working (1-2 days per week in the Office).
- 30 day’s annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
- Extensive CPD and peer support.
- Opportunity to work on a wide range of interesting projects, offering unique opportunities to develop your experience and skills.
- Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship.
If you're driven to help shape vibrant, sustainable communities and want to leave a lasting legacy for Somerset, we'd welcome a conversation. For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Dawn Devries via email at dawn.devries@Somerset.gov.uk or Nikki Honan on Nikki.Honan@Somerset.gov.uk or 07483 664 207.
A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.