Job Description

About the team we are recruiting to:

Planning is about making the best use of land and making places where people want to live, work and play. Through preparation and implementation of land use planning policies and guidance, our work unlocks growth, contributing significantly towards our corporate priorities, and strives to protect and improve the built and natural environment.



We are a council with a good track record of delivering Local Plans with a recently adopted Local Plan and work commencing on the preparation of a new Local Plan in the context of the Government's recent reforms to Plan-making.



The team includes Ecology, Building Conservation, Landscape, Urban Design and Planning Policy Officers. The professional expertise in the wider service and Council makes it a great place to work and opportunities to develop skills and knowledge.

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and creative Urban Design Officer to contribute to the well-rounded and knowledgeable Planning Strategy team. Working within the wider team, you will provide specialist design advice and prepare policies on all aspects of urban design and place-making. You will be a key player in the council's aim to improve the quality of the built environment across the district.



The team's specialisms include Ecology, Building Conservation, Landscape, Urban Design and Planning Policy. The professional expertise in the wider service and Council makes it a great place to work, with opportunities to broaden and develop skills and knowledge.

What you will need:

A degree level qualification in urban design, architecture or closely related discipline and experience of working in an urban design role A good understanding of current legislation, policy, guidance and best practice including current trends and issues in urban design The ability to generate innovative and deliverable solutions Good problem-solving skills and a creative, collaborative approach Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective teamwork, client and stakeholder engagement, both written and spoken, together with the ability to analyse and present information clearly and effectively Proficient in using IT Ability to work independently, manage time, workload and tight deadlines while remaining focused, calm and professional Willingness to learn and share knowledge Site visits are required in a large rural area and so the suitable candidate will need to hold a current driving licence and/or the ability to travel around West Suffolk

Why work for us? Our benefits include:

annual leave entitlement of 25 days per annum (pro rata if part time) plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days plus bank holidays after 5 years' service (with an option to buy up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year subject to approval) a generous pension scheme (LGPS) including life assurance (a payment of three times your annual salary) flexible working options to enable work/life balance agile working (ability to work in the office and from home) with work being an activity we do, not a place we go access to a unique employee benefits package which includes discounts and cashback on supermarkets, high street shops, holidays, mobile phones, electrical goods, savings and loan schemes and many other products and services Salary sacrifice benefits including Cycle to Work scheme, Tusker Leased Car Scheme and SmartTech (buy the latest tech products interest free and spread the cost over your salary). Rail and bus staff discounts a range of Health and Wellbeing initiatives including an employee assistance programme discounted membership at Abbeycroft Leisure centres a culture of learning inspiring staff to focus on continuous learning Modern office accommodation

For more information:

For an informal discussion and further information please contact Christine Leveson, Principal Building Conservation Officer, at chris.leveson@westsuffolk.gov.uk or on 01284 757356.



Please note, we are unable to accept CVs, please follow the online application process to apply.

Closing date: 9 November 2025

Interview date: 26 and 27 November 2025

West Suffolk Council has been rated in the top 10 councils for climate action and as a member of UK100 has demonstrated its commitment to a rapid transition to Net Zero with Clean Air in our communities. The council has declared a climate and biodiversity emergency and is committed to working towards net zero emissions by 2030.