PDP Planning Officer

This role has a starting salary of £33,553 per annum, for working 36 hours per week.

We are looking for two Planning Officers to join our friendly Development Management Team, which deals with planning applications relating to Minerals and Waste development, and the County Council's own development. If you are interested in land use planning, how it can shape our environment and facilitate good quality development, this could be the perfect next step. We are particularly keen to encourage applicants who may be at the start of their career in planning, and are looking for somewhere to develop their skills, knowledge and experience.

This is a Professional Development Programme (PDP) position in our Environment and Planning directorate. The position provides a formal career development opportunity supported by a comprehensive training and development offer. This position has a grade span ranging between PS7 - PS9 (£33,552 - £45,135) which you will have the opportunity to progress through. The role is suitable for entry-level candidates with a relevant degree or candidates with some experience working in a related field.

Our Offer to You:

• A structured Professional Development Programme (PDP), including opportunities to gain new skills, experience and a planning qualification accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute
• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a tangible difference to Surrey's environment and communities

About the Role

Our team sits within the Council's Place directorate and is responsible for delivering Surrey County Council's statutory planning function as Minerals and Waste Planning Authority and in relation to the County Council's own development (under Regulation 3). We pride ourselves on providing an efficient and professional service to applicants, as well as assisting in the delivery of development which the County Council needs to provide and improve its services.

As a Planning Officer, you will form part of the team dealing with pre-application advice requests and the determination of all types of planning application across the Minerals and Waste, and Regulation 3 (County Council development) functions.

The role will involve:

• Managing a caseload of requests for pre-application advice and planning applications
• Carrying out site visits across the County
• Liaising with applicants
• Engaging stakeholders such as consultees, elected Councillors and those making representations on planning applications
• Drafting reports and making recommendations
• Participating in Planning and Regulatory Committee as required
• Assisting other Planning Officers on complex applications as required

Although you will not have line management responsibilities, you will be encouraged to take ownership of your workload, manage your time effectively, and actively pursue your own professional development.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align withour behaviours:

• A good working knowledge of land use planning in England and an ambition to develop a career as a planner
• The ability to work both collaboratively and independently as required, planning and managing your workload and adapting to shifting priorities in a dynamic environment
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly, concisely, and respectfully, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work inclusively with a diverse range of stakeholders to analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant data and the resolution of issues to support decision making

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:

1. What has motivated you to apply for the role of Planning Officer? (150 words)
2. What relevant experience or transferable skills could you bring to this role? (200 words)
3. What do you think the key challenges are that Planning Officers are likely to face and how do you think you would manage them? (200 words)
4. Describe a time you had to work towards simultaneous deadlines. Please explain how you organised yourself and what you learnt from this experience (200 words)

Please explain how you organised yourself and what you learnt from this experience (200 words)

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 10/05/2026 with interviews to follow.

This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.