Senior Planning Policy Officer

Job description

Number of Vacancies: 1 Time Type: Full time Worker Type: Fixed Term (Fixed Term) Proposed Interview Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026 Hours of Work: 37 Hiring Manager: Roger Gray Contact Number: 01482 612614 Job Description Summary: This is a Full Time, Fixed Term position for 2 years due to funding (any extension dependant on securing further funding) . Are you an experienced planning professional looking to help shape the future of Hull? We are seeking a motivated Senior Planning Policy Officer to join our Planning Service and play a key role in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the new Hull Local Plan. The role also provides a unique opportunity to help deliver an innovative programme that supports the creation of active, healthy and inclusive environments across Hull. Working with colleagues across Planning, Public Health, Transport and partner organisations, you will lead on planning policy projects, develop evidence-based policy, undertake research and engagement activities, and provide expert planning advice. Your work will help ensure that future development supports sustainable growth, creates high-quality places, and contributes to improving health, wellbeing and active lifestyles across the city. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the planning system, excellent analytical and communication skills, and the ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future growth and development of Hull, , supporting the delivery of thriving, healthy and sustainable communities while working within a supportive and forward-thinking team. For an informal discussion, please contact Roger Gray on 01482 612 614 If the postholder requires a Standard or Enhanced DBS disclosure the candidate is required to declare full details of everything on their criminal record unless the conviction/s and/or caution/s are considered “protected” in line with filtering rules for DBS checks. ROLE AND PURPOSE The post holder will lead on a range of planning policy matters, which are required for the delivery of the Hull Local Plan with significant emphasis on creating active environments and ensuring Active Design principles are embedded in future planning decisions. The post holder will focus on building relationships with internal and external partners (including local planning authorities, public health and the active partnership), to design a strategic vision and contribute to the development of workable planning policies, considering all sources of relevant evidence including best practice, data and intelligence. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: 1. Customer Focus – The post holder will work with national, regional, and sub-regional government and strategic bodies to inform the planning process, including advising officers and members on national and regional policy developments and contributing to the consultations on behalf of the residents of Hull in relation to active environments. Co-ordinates effective and efficient joint working with statutory and other key partners to ensure the highest quality development and place making, helping Planning Officers and Planning Committee assess the quality of development proposals with a particular focus on physical activity, health and wellbeing, health inequalities, and inclusion. 2. Performance Management – Researches and evaluates trends and background information in formulating realistic planning policy options and choices and recommends solutions on wide ranging matters affecting the long-term future of the City. Identifying, commissioning and managing consultants for appropriate work tasks. Codesigning, developing, implementing, and evaluating training programmes for Public Health, Planning and Transport Planning practitioners and managers that build a common purpose for healthy place-making and contribute to integrated working. Contribute to the ongoing evaluation and continuous learning of the impact of this workstream as part of place-based expansion. 3. Statutory Obligations – Lead on relevant sections of the development of Hull’s new Local Plan, particularly in relation to opportunities to create active environments-write and develop needs led and evidenced based policies. 4. Building common purpose around Public Health and Planning through expanding a partnership approach, within the Local Authority, wider stakeholders and the Active Hull Partnership. 5. Provision of a constructive input to guide developers towards the highest quality development and place making, helping Planning Officers and Planning Committee assess the quality of development proposals with a particular focus on physical activity, sport, health and wellbeing, health inequalities, and inclusion. 6. Advising on the potential health impacts of a range of planning activities and workstreams including planning applications, planning policies, regeneration initiatives and associated projects and programmes, including embedding Health Impact Assessments where appropriate. 7. Developing and influencing planning policy and guidance to ensure that significant weight is attached to place planning for creating active, healthy and inclusive design. Involvement in the development and implementation of the Council’s built facilities strategy and Playing Pitch Strategy. 8. Attending pre-application/planning application meetings with developers and their design and planning teams together with the Council’s project team when required. Respond to submitted proposals and planning applications. 9. Influencing and contributing to the design and masterplanning of developments to ensure that maximum opportunities are exploited to increase physical activity levels. The post holder will also provide advice on Council led schemes outside the planning process (for example major projects, transport schemes). 10. Providing leadership, advice and challenge to integrate public health considerations into the planning process, from Local Plans to major planning applications 11. Lead on up-skilling Officers and Members to deliver positive change through the spatial planning process. 12. Ensure that the necessary guidance and other resources are available to developers and planning applicants to secure healthy and inclusive design. 13. The post holder may be called upon to provide expert advice at Planning Committee, public inquiries and hearings. 14. Actively engaging with the broader Active Hull system and its governance structures, whilst contributing to the wider Hull place-based partnership agenda, supporting collaborative efforts across sectors. The above principal accountabilities are not exhaustive and may vary without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility. NC5099.Senior Planning Policy Officer Compensation Grades: GRADES 8. Pay Ranges: £36,363.00 - £39,152.00 Job Classifications: 3- Not Politically Restricted - Designated As Not Politically Sensitive (Politically Restricted Posts), 3- Standard - (Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)), Casual - (Travel Allowance Policy), No - (Childcare Disqualification Requirement), No - (Statutory Post) Benefits of Working of Hull City Council: - A competitive salary - An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) - Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period - Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods - Supportive and forward-thinking culture - Great career development opportunities Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description. We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage. We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.