Planning Assistant

Are you motivated to the aspect of growing into a role long term, with opportunity to progress?
An exceptional opportunity to join West Oxfordshire District Council as a Planning Assistant, we are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated team player to join a fantastic tight knit team, delivering on providing high end service, through a customer focused approach.
This permanent role offers the flexibility of working within the offices at Witney and agile working, allowing you that extra freedom and work life balance. The Council has an ambitious Council Plan focused on a range of important priorities including putting residents first, climate and ecological action, affordable housing, and helping our economy to grow. We want to deliver excellent services whilst ensuring the financial sustainability of the Council. We also want to continue working in close partnership with our local communities and other important partners.
Are you interested in developing your career through planning? If so we would love to hear from you.
Our planning service is fundamental to the success of the council's ambition for a sustainable future, and we are passionate on leading on our climate and ecological emergencies in the area. From the Salt Cross Garden Village strategic development area to the development of a new world class car museum at Enstone, our focus is to enable our communities in West Oxfordshire and beyond to thrive, creating great places for people to live, work, learn and enjoy in our ever-evolving communities.
We want our future generations to thrive too and are serious in tackling issues concerning climate and environmental emergencies to planning propositions. Now is a fantastic time to be joining us. We are looking to deliver upon our council priorities and shape our environment for the benefit of the local area and beyond.
As a Planning Assistant you will handle a caseload of a variety of planning applications; deal with related appeals and enforcement cases and engage with applicants and other interested parties on a day-to-day basis. You will be focal in delivering excellent customer service.
You will be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and willing to learn, whilst being able to work individually as well as within a team. You will also have excellent communication skills and be able to work to tight deadlines, whilst focussing on delivering good customer service and high-quality development.
This is a great opportunity for someone who would like to grow into the role and company long term. Fundamentally, will give you the tools to support you, harness your potential and become an important cog within the team.
You will need
A minimum of 5 qualifications equivalent to NVQ level 2 or GCSE at Grade C/4 or above, must include Maths and English
Ability to build customer relationships
Experience in assessing routine situations and carrying out inspections if and when required
Ability to remain calm and confident when dealing with challenging customers and environments
Ability to resolve routine issues by negotiation
For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.
What can we do for you
Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
26 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 29 days after five years' service and 32 days following 10 years' continuous service
In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
Generous contributory local government pension scheme
Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
Cycle to work scheme
Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
Terms and conditions apply.
These are just a handful of the benefits that you can enjoy when you join us!
If you feel this is the role for you please email your CV and supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria above by clicking on the ?Apply for this Position' icon within this page. Alternatively, please email us at join- or contact the recruitment team on 01285 623319.
Your application will not be considered if you have not provided a supporting statement, in addition to your CV.
Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.
Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years' employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.

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