Pride in our Borough: A Borough that works for everyone

We are pleased to announce that we have two permanent positions available within Mid Kent Planning Support, working in our Validation team. We are particularly looking for people with validation experience, but will welcome applicants who are hardworking, accurate, and work well under pressure; as well as having a knowledge of computer systems and GIS. The need for excellent customer service skills, as well as the people skills necessary to liaise with planning officers; be able to work to tight deadlines and be able to take ownership of queries and problems through to resolution. You will play a crucial role in ensuring that all planning applications received at the authorities are processed, registered, and validated quickly and accurately.
The post is career graded which provides excellence opportunities to develop in the role, which provides a salary incentive.

About the role
Grade 5:
• You’ll deliver timely and accurate Planning Support, dealing with answering technical level enquiries from internal and external customers.
• You’ll understand plans and other illustrative material submitted with applications, carrying out stage one, two, and three of the validating process and completing the registration of non-complex planning applications. You’ll also chase or return all overdue invalid applications.
Grade 6:
• You’ll answer advanced technical level enquiries from internal and external officers and customers, directly advising them on appropriate plans and other illustrative material submitted with applications.
• You’ll fully validate applications, including small majors and complete all stages of the validation process, communicating the outcome with applicants or agents, including the reasons for invalid applications where applicable.
Grade 7:
• You’ll fully validate applications, including complex significate major applications and complete all stages of the validation process, communicating the outcome with applicants or agents, including the reasons for invalid applications where applicable.
• Help to resolve issues arising within the team suggesting processes and procedures to be adopted based on advanced understanding of current systems and processes
• Support other planning support officers within the planning support team with expert technical advice on the processing of planning applications
• Support the Planning Support Officer (Validation) Supervisor in allocating work and checking the work of other Planning Support Officers

About you
Grade 5:
• You’ll have experience of working in an administrative environment, and GCSE pass grades in English and Maths (or equivalent). You’ll be an active learner, with the drive to proactively develop yourself and your knowledge of the planning process.
• You’ll have a good knowledge of the validation processes.
• On a personal level, you’ll remain calm under pressure, and have the ability to work in a challenging environment. You’ll have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be a team player capable of motivating colleagues and encouraging teamwork.
In addition, for Grade 6:
• You’ll have extensive experience of working in a planning support environment,
• You’ll have a complex understanding of planning legislation/ process. With an excellent understanding of fee regulations, you’ll be able to advise others, as well as prioritising your own workload.
In addition, for Grade 7:
• Extensive experience of working in a planning environment and specifically of validating planning applications including large major and complex applications
• Keeping up to date with all legislative changes that may affect performance and procedure.
• Performance management procedures for planning and planning support
The Council considers this to be a customer focused role and the ability to converse at ease with customers adapting communication style to suit differing audiences and provide advice in accurate spoken English is fundamental to the role.

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.
This is a full-time position on a permanent contract.
For further information or to discuss this opportunity in more detail, please contact Joanne Ruck on 01622 602177 or Caroline Pieri on 01622 602130
To apply for the position please visit www.maidstone.gov.uk/jobs and complete the online application form or by phone on 01622 602555.

Closing date: 31 July 2022.
Interview date: 11 August 2022.

Council Benefits: career average pension scheme, professional fee payment, flexible working (including opportunities for home working and job share), employee benefits package and generous leave entitlement.