Planning Policy Monitoring Officer Ref: 32-25

Salary: Grade 9 (£25,539 - £31,645 per annum)
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Location: Dereham (remote-enabled)
Contract: Permanent

Would you like a role where your work:

• Makes a real impact on local communities and supports growth across Breckland?
• Contributes to shaping the long-term vision for the district through the Local Plan Review?
• Offers the opportunity to build a career in planning policy within a supportive, forward-thinking team?

We're looking for a Planning Policy Monitoring Officer to join our Planning Policy Team. In this key role, you'll support the delivery of the Breckland Local Plan Review, monitor housing delivery against the Council's targets, and help oversee the use of environmental credits such as Bio-Diversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality credits in planning decisions.

About Planning and Development

Our Planning and Development service plays a vital role in managing how land is used for the benefit of the community. We provide a clear framework for the delivery of sustainable homes, jobs, and infrastructure - ensuring Breckland remains a great place to live and work, now and in the future.

In This Role, You Will:

• Provide technical support in preparing the Local Plan, policy documents, and evidence base
• Manage data collection and reporting using GIS and other tools
• Monitor housing supply, from planning approval through to development completion
• Develop and maintain indicators to evaluate policy performance
• Produce key reports, including the Authorities Monitoring Report and brownfield site register
• Support statutory returns and national monitoring requirements
• Assist in managing Bio-Diversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality credit schemes, including related legal agreements and data reporting

About You

To succeed in this role, you will:

• Have an analytical and organised approach to work, enabling you to develop and maintain databases to monitor housing delivery and the use of credits to support Biodiversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality
• Be comfortable working collaboratively in a supportive team environment to contribute to the production of the Breckland Local Plan Review, which will guide housing and economic growth across the district for the next 18 years
• Be confident in communicating with key stakeholders—such as developers, land agents, and promoters—to gather data and establish housing trajectories for effective monitoring
• Have a sound working knowledge of spreadsheets and office-based tools, with the ability to produce reports and briefs that support the delivery of the Local Plan Review
• Bring an interest in, and understanding of, the environment and the local area, supporting both planned growth and the delivery of ecological and environmental benefits

Our Values

We are proud to work in line with these five core behaviours:

• Collaborative - We value others' ideas, share knowledge, and build positive relationships.
• Ambitious - We embrace change, challenge ourselves to improve, and take pride in our work.
• Results-driven - We are focused, resilient, and committed to delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Empowering - We seek new opportunities, embrace innovation, and take ownership for our growth.
• Supportive - We care for our colleagues, promote wellbeing, and foster a positive working environment.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a job - it's a chance to play a vital role in shaping the future of a thriving and diverse district. You'll be part of a friendly and motivated team, with opportunities for professional development, and the chance to see the real-world impact of your work on Breckland's places, people, and environment.

Ready to help shape the future of Breckland? Apply now and be part of something meaningful.

Closing Date: 09:00 Monday 18 August 2025

Job summary

Key Responsibilities

• Provision of technical support in the preparation of the Local Plan, other policy documents and associated evidence base documents ensuring effective and efficient data collection, processing, storing and reporting, including geographic information systems (GIS)
• To monitor residential housing supply by accurately recording development schemes granted planning permission through to their construction and completion
• Monitoring of progress on development sites through internal sources, internet based mapping, telephone / email based surveys and site visits, recording results on the council's computer systems
• Development of and maintenance of monitoring indicators to enable the team to assess the success of planning policies.
• Production of reports as required, including the annual Authorities Monitoring Report and preparation of brownfield registers.
• Provision of technical and administrative support in the return of statutory monitoring reports and returns.
• Provide support to the Development Management Team in the co-ordination and management of Bio-diversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality Credits monitoring as well as the co-ordination and management of associated legal agreements for existing and new Bio-diversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality schemes.
• Project co-ordination of the delivery of projects and workstreams across the planning department.
• Assist in management of incoming communication, including telephone and email correspondence.
• Preparation of reports, briefs, and data to support the delivery and monitoring of projects and workstreams.

Primary Leadership Objectives of the Role

• Contribute to the update of the of the Council's Local Plan (and/or its successor) and also take a lead role monitoring across the service including housing and BNG and advising on nutrient neutrality.

This job description is not exhaustive.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Experience of planning policy and knowledge of the plan-making system
• An understanding and knowledge of the UK Biodiversity process.
• An understanding and knowledge of Nutrient Neutrality.
• Effective and efficient communication skills and an ability to work with people from a wide range of organisations.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Experience of using Microsoft windows applications and GIS systems.
• An ability to work effectively alone and as part of a team.
• An understanding and knowledge of the planning system.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a planning department, public or private sector.
• Experience of BNG and Nutrient Mitigation.

Qualifications

Essential

• A professional qualification at degree level in Planning or a related subject with relevant work experience
• A full UK driving license and to have use of a car.

Desirable

• Knowledge of ecology and BNG/Nutrient Neutrality

Essential Behaviours

Collaborative

• I look for ways to work in partnership and listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge.
• I recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input.
• I recognise, appreciate and praise others for their contribution.

Ambitious

• I always ask myself 'How could we do this better?', taking ownership of change and helping others to understand, adapt, implement, and embed it.
• I have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things.
• My approach to work is filled with positivity and optimism.
• I am a proud ambassador, taking pride and responsibility for the work we do and encouraging others to do the same.

Results-driven

• I review my own performance and ask for feedback to learn and improve.
• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions.
• I am driven, showing courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan.
• I keep to my promises and challenge myself and others to deliver high-quality services.

Empowering

• I show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo - acting on opportunities to generate income or reduce costs, embracing new technology and promoting digitalisation.
• I ask for help and support when needed, and take responsibility if things don't go well, learning from it for my own and for the organisation's development.
• I appropriately challenge unacceptable behaviour.

Supportive

• I treat others as I would want to be treated myself, ensuring that I am welcoming, friendly and approachable.
• I care for my colleagues, take an interest in them, and show support for their personal identities and what's important to them.
• I understand and take care of my own wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of those around me.
• I give time to colleagues who need help or support.

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

Predominantly office role and remote/office based role. No outdoor or field-based work is required.

As an employee of Breckland Council you must comply with the Health & Safety policy and attend the compulsory Health & Safety training as and when requested.

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2024 staff survey to convince you..

• 94% said they feel trusted and empowered
• 90% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 89% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 94% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 91% said they felt supported by their manager

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays)
• Free car parking.
• Remote-enabled working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office. See what it is like working here by watching this short film: 
  

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role please contact Gemma Manthorpe (Planning Policy Manager) by emailing gemma.manthorpe@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date - 18^th August 2025 (09.00am)
Interview date - w/c 26^th August 2025

APPLY ONLINE
 

Equal Opportunities - We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies. These are listed as essential requirements on the person specification.