Job Description

About The Role

Senior Planning Officer

41,424- 44,624 per annum, 37 Hours per week

Permanent Contract

Coleford

Are you an experienced planner ready to take the next step in your career?

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with 3-5 years' experience looking to progress into a senior role, or for a planner from the private sector keen to bring their expertise into local government. Joining our friendly Development Management team of 12, you'll also be part of a wider professional group, including specialists in policy, sustainability, and heritage. With ongoing mentoring from our Principal Planners and Development Manager, this role offers genuine scope for growth and development in a supportive and collaborative environment.


Working within one of the most unique and diverse districts in the country, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of the Forest of Dean - from historic woodland landscapes and the Wye Valley National Landscape to vibrant market towns and rural farmsteads. The area's rich cultural heritage and variety of regeneration projects, including the conversion of historic banks and churches into community spaces, make every day different and rewarding. You'll also have the chance to work on exciting developments such as an international project to improve the understanding and preservation of the planets deep water environments, large-scale solar projects, and the creation of our new Local Plan - all part of our commitment to going greener and exploring innovative ideas like achieving Biosphere status.


This is your chance to make a meaningful impact, delivering major and complex planning applications that will help shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for the district. If you're passionate about planning, thrive on variety, and are looking for a role where you can stretch your skills while working in one of the UK's most distinctive landscapes, we'd love to hear from you.

You will need

A qualification in planning, equivalent to a degree or relevant experience of three to five years GCSE Maths and English or equivalent to grade C/4 or higher Experience of working flexibly as part of a team and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders Experience of being involved in continuously improving services and developing products to meet customer need Deliver commitments and take ownership of own caseload, reshaping of plans to deliver required outcomes

Special Conditions

Full UK Driving Licence with access to a vehicle for work purposes


For more information about this role please see the /Person Specification.

Closing date- 30th November 2025

Interview date- 12th December 2025

What we can do for you

Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role) 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care Generous contributory local government pension scheme Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues Cycle to work scheme Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements

About Us

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity.

We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.


Our organisation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people and children. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies


Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years' employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.