Senior Planning Officer

Senior Planning Officer Salary Details: £39,152 - £45,091 About the role

Looking for a new and exciting challenge? Would you like to develop your planning career in a beautiful and iconic area which not only has thousands of listed buildings, national landscape designations and England's only natural World Heritage Site - the Jurassic Coast, but is also a place of growth and innovation with a population of 380,000 and an economy worth around £8.1 billion?

We are a bold and ambitious planning service which has been through a period of positive transformation since becoming a unitary authority in 2019. With a one team approach we are taking Dorset into the future. Dealing with over 5000 planning applications a year - with everything from urban extensions, retail schemes and renewable energy projects to small scale agricultural and householder projects working for Dorset Council's planning service really does have something for everyone.

What you can expect to be doing?

As a Senior Planning Officer you would be part of one of our "fast track" teams in the Southern and Western planning committee area. In the fast track team you would have the opportunity to shape local place making through the consideration of a range of complex "minor" applications. However, we are offering a dual role where you would also have the opportunity to drive high quality place making through the consideration of some major applications alongside the "majors" team. Both elements of the role provide extensive opportunities for negotiation, including any necessary planning obligations, presenting applications to committee, and representing the Council at hearings and public inquiries. There will be the opportunity to undertake case reviews, signing off applications under the council's scheme of delegation and to mentor planning officers in the "fast track" teams.

About you

You will hold a degree-level qualification in town planning (or related subject) and it is normally expected a postgraduate qualification in planning. You will have post-qualification experience in a planning role, in either the public or private sector. Chartered membership of the RTPI or eligibility to apply is desirable.

You will be confident dealing with major and complex "minor" applications and the presentation of those applications at planning committee. Being able to demonstrate experience of mentoring and signing off applications would be desirable.

Further Information

This is a full time role at 37 hours per week. Part time applicants will be considered.

The post has a significant travel requirement and you are contractually required to have a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the council) available for use as required.

You do not need to live in Dorset-we are able to work in a hybrid format but we would ask that you visit Dorset at least once a week for in person team meetings and to undertake site visits.

Closing date for applications

26th April 2026

Interview date

Weds 13th May 2026 or Thursday 14th May 2026

If you would like to discuss the job vacancy in further detail, please contact the Southern/Western team-Katrina Trevett, DM Team Leader ().

To apply please click on the 'apply button'