South and East Lincolnshire Council Partnership - Principal Planning Policy Officer

Principal Planning Policy Officer

Salary: Grade 6 (£45,091 – £53,657)

Shape the Future of South East Lincolnshire

Are you an experienced planning policy professional looking for a role where you can make a real impact? Join us as a Principal Planning Policy Officer and play a key role in delivering the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan, supporting growth, regeneration, and sustainable development across two councils – Boston Borough Council and South Holland District Council.

As part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) – the largest of its kind in England – you’ll work in a dynamic environment covering 49% of Lincolnshire’s geography and 300,000 residents.

Our Partnership is driving strategic growth through the delivery of thousands of new homes and employment land allocations across Lincolnshire. We are leading on the review and implementation of Local Plans, setting the framework for sustainable development, climate resilience, and infrastructure investment. This includes shaping policies for housing delivery, biodiversity net gain, renewable energy, and coastal protection – ensuring our communities thrive now and in the future.

ABOUT US: Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council have formed the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. The largest Council Partnership in the country. Since October 2021, the Partnership Councils have been working closely to deliver improved services to the communities in the sub-region and already there have been many positive outcomes.

Over time, it is envisaged that services will become formally shared across the three Councils creating the opportunity for colleagues to be involved in new and innovate areas of work.

Please visit Join our Planning Team - South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership for more information about the partnership and our planning service.

Why Join Us?

• Be a lead officer in preparing evidence, policies, and supporting documents for the Local Plan.
• Influence housing delivery targets and employment land allocations that will shape the future of our communities.
• Work on diverse policy areas including climate change, biodiversity net gain, renewable energy, and flood risk.
• Benefit from a strong culture of staff development, including RTPI support and leadership programmes.
• Enjoy agile and flexible working arrangements within a collaborative environment.

About the Role

As Principal Planning Policy Officer, you will:

• Lead on the preparation, monitoring, and review of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.
• Manage specific projects and deputise for the Planning Policy Manager when required.
• Provide expert evidence at Local Plan Examinations and planning inquiries.
• Organise consultations, site investigations, and data analysis to inform policy development.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to performance management and service improvement.

What We’re Looking For

• Extensive knowledge of planning legislation and policy development.
• Experience in Local Plan preparation and delivering sound, adoptable plans.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• RTPI membership (or eligibility) and commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Ability to travel across a wide rural district as part of your duties.

BENEFITS: We offer excellent terms and conditions of employment including:

Local Government Pension Scheme, 23.8% employer contribution

Generous annual leave scheme +option to buy more

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Benefits Platform including retail, holiday, and leisure discounts

Cycle to work scheme*

Flu Jabs

Free Eye Test voucher

Flexible Working Policy

Agile Working Policy*

Car mileage reimbursement*

Excellent career progression and training opportunities

Long Service Recognition*

*Certain restrictions may apply

If you are interested in having a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Brian Gallagher at Brian.Gallagher@penna.com or 07716 098175

Ready to Shape Policy for Growth?

If you’re passionate about planning policy and want to help deliver sustainable communities across Lincolnshire, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply:

1. Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
2. Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
3. Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
4. Please ensure that the file name of your CV and supporting statement includes your full name.
5. Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.
6. If you have a long-term health condition or disability and would like your application to be considered in accordance with a Disability Confident Scheme, please email: execapplications@penna.com, to inform the Penna team.

Please find the full job description for the role Here