Principal Planning Officer

Salary

Grade 9 £48,738 - £53,051 (bar at £51,928) per annum pro rata

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Working style: On-Site
Closing date: 11:59pm, 26 November 2026
Interview Method: Face to Face

You must already have a valid right to work in the UK documentation, as we cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role.

The Planning Service plays a vital role in shaping Manchester's growth and ensuring development supports the city's ambitions for residents, businesses and communities. As a Principal Planning Officer within the Areas team, you will make a significant contribution to this work by leading key aspects of service delivery while helping to deliver high-quality planning outcomes across the city. This role manages the delivery of the development management service within the Areas Team in Manchester alongside the other Principal Planning Officer in the team. The Area Team covers outer Manchester from Heaton Park in the north through a number of regeneration town centres, including Wythenshawe, regeneration areas through to Manchester Airport in the south. The workload is diverse and challenging; but it is central to the delivery of high-quality developments and a high-quality development management service. The role would be key to the delivery of the Project 500 housing initiative.

This is a varied and influential role combining strategic leadership, service improvement and operational planning work. You will provide leadership to the team, ensuring the effective delivery of the development management service. You will also take a lead role in driving continuous improvement, performance management and customer service excellence.

Alongside these responsibilities, you will manage complex major planning applications, appeals and enquiries, providing expert professional advice and supporting the effective management of the wider team. The role involves working closely with planning colleagues, councillors, committees, developers/agents/investors, residents, community groups and a range of internal and external partners to achieve the best outcomes for Manchester.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional who wants to take the next step to management and influence service delivery, support organisational improvement and help shape the future development of the city.

For queries about the role, please contact the hiring manager, Jennifer Connor, at [email protected] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role. This route is for vacancy-related enquiries only and should not be used to submit applications.

Pre-employment Checks

If you are successful, your appointment will be subject to completing the relevant pre-employment checks. These checks will be carried out as part of our recruitment process and may include:

• Qualification verification: Planning Degree or equivalent
• Professional registration: Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute or significant experience
• Satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks where applicable.

For more information on these checks, please visit checks page.

About the Candidate

We're looking for an experienced and motivated planning professional who can combine strong technical planning expertise with effective leadership and a commitment to delivering excellent customer-focused services. You will be confident working with a wide range of stakeholders, managing competing priorities and leading service improvement activities while supporting the development of colleagues.

We'll use the following essential criteria to decide which candidates to invite to assessment. Use your personal statement to provide evidence of how you meet each one, supported by relevant examples:

1. Experience of managing and developing professional teams within a planning or related regulatory environment, including performance management and service improvement.
2. Demonstrable experience of leading on complex planning applications, appeals or related casework, providing sound professional advice and achieving positive outcomes.
3. Experience of managing performance to improve service delivery and the customer experience.
4. Proven ability to build effective relationships and influence a wide range of stakeholders, including elected members, developers, agents, residents and partner organisations.

For guidance on how to write your personal statement, please visit How to Apply - Manchester City Council.

If you're invited to assessment, we'll look at a wider range of the role requirements. For more detail, please see the role profile.

Use of AI

You may use AI to support your application, but all examples must be your own and based on real experience. Applications may be withdrawn if content is misleading or presents someone else's experience as your own. Internal candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

Applicants who meet the essential shortlisting criteria and are eligible under the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme will be progressed to the assessment stage.

Support and Adjustments

If you're successful in securing a role, we'll make every effort to provide the support, equipment and reasonable adjustments you need to carry out your duties. Where needed, we'll consider adapting aspects of the role. Find out more about our inclusion and wellbeing .

About Us

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city. You'll help improve lives and support our local communities. Working together, we can create better public services for everyone.

Benefits we offer

• Up to 26 days' annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years' service
• Buy up to two extra weeks' leave
• Up to 3 days' volunteering leave
• A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
• A defined benefit pension scheme
• Enhanced parental and carers leave
• Employee discounts and perks

Learn more at Careers - Manchester City Council

Our commitment to inclusion

At Manchester City Council, we're dedicated to creating a workplace that fully reflects the diversity of our local communities. We actively encourage applications from people of all ages and backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from applicants from ethnic minority communities and disabled people, who remain underrepresented in parts of our workforce.

GM Elevate Programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.

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