Planning Policy Officer jobs

Job reference

REQ00000020293

Date posted

10/08/2026

Application closing date

01/09/2026

Location

Carlisle

Salary

£40,777 - £41,771

Package

Blank

Contractual hours

37

Basis

Full time

Job description

Job Title: Planning Policy Officer

Salary: £40,777 to £41,771

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Civic Centre, Carlisle

Contract: Fixed Term (24 months)

#INDMR

About this opportunity

We’re looking for two skilled and motivated Planning Policy Officers to join our Strategy and Policy team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering Cumberland’s strategic objectives for health, housing, the economy, environment, and infrastructure.

Bring your planning career to a place where balance, flexibility and wellbeing truly matter. You’ll enjoy hybrid working, the freedom to shape your week, and a generous annual leave package — with the option to buy even more.

About the role

You’ll provide professional planning advice and expertise across all aspects of the planning policy function, with a particular focus on producing the Cumberland Local Plan and associated planning policy documents. This includes drafting policies, developing site allocations, preparing evidence for Public Examination, and managing external commissions.

What you’ll do

• Draft planning policies, site profiles, and development briefs.
• Prepare evidence base documents, technical assessments, and annual monitoring reports.
• Represent the Council with external partners and respond to consultations.
• Support communities developing neighbourhood plans.
• Provide professional planning advice to internal teams, developers, and the public.
• Support public consultations for the Local Plan

About you

• A degree in Town Planning or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Membership of RTPI (or working towards it) is desirable.
• Strong knowledge of planning policy and the local plan process.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively and manage workload
• Strong analytical skills and ability to explain complex information clearly
• Experience or interest in Minerals and Waste planning is desirable

These roles are available on a fixed-term basis.

We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.

We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.

We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

Contact

For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Chris Hoban by email at chris.hoban@cumberland.gov.uk

Guaranteed Interviews

We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.

• Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
• Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
• Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).

If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.

Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Application and Interview information

Easily apply by submitting your CV and answering a few short questions

• Closing date: 01/09/2026
• Interview date: TBC

If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at HR.Systems@cumbria.gov.uk.

Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.