Senior Planning Officer (Career Grade)

This is a career graded planner role. The salary starts on £33,672 - £37,562 at band 6 graduate level, progressing to £38,510 - £42,123 at band 7 Planning Officer level, and up to £43,150 - £47,664 at band 8 Senior Planning Officer level. An additional market supplement of £3,500 per annum is applicable at the Senior level (Band 8) only, reviewed yearly. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to build a career as a planner with the Borough of Great Yarmouth. Located on the east coast of Norfolk, the Borough benefits from over 15 miles of coastline, a strong visitor economy, a growing offshore energy and port logistics sector, and the distinctive seaside towns of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea.

The Council is delivering an ambitious regeneration programme, with major projects including North Quay, South Denes, and the Winter Gardens, building on the successful transformation of The Venetian Waterways and the Market Place. The Borough’s unique landscape and constraints require a carefully balanced approach to growth and addressing impacts associated with climate change, flood risk, and deprivation. The new Local Plan sets out a clear vision to deliver 6,840 new homes by 2042 alongside employment opportunities and supporting infrastructure.

The role offers genuine scope to influence development across the Borough, including opportunities to present at planning committee. In addition to a competitive salary, the Council provides an attractive benefits package, including generous annual leave, flexible working arrangements, and access to a quality pension scheme.

End date: 20^th September 2026

Interview date: 30th September 2026

For more information, or to discuss this role, please contact Rob Tate, via email at [email protected] or 01493 846854.

If you have a strong background in town planning or a related discipline such as geography or economics, this role will appeal to you. We are seeking motivated individuals who are keen to shape development, possess strong report‑writing skills, and communicate clearly and confidently. The Council is committed to supporting continuous professional development, including opportunities to gain membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The team receives an extensive variety of applications to support career development. Applicants are encouraged to review the full job description and person specification for further details about the role.

At Band 6 (graduate) level, candidates will have a Bachelor’s Degree (or similar) in Town and Country Planning or a related discipline with the ability to organise and prioritise their own work, and to write reports with a high level of verbal logic. At Band 7 (officer) level, candidates will have a Masters Degree or equivalent in Town and Country Planning accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute, and evidence towards chartered membership. At Band 8 (senior) level, candidates will have a Masters Degree or equivalent in Town and Country Planning and full chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) with at least five years’ experience of planning policy or development management related work, or significant demonstrable experience of working at a senior level.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has the goal to achieve excellence for the Borough. We don’t just say we are ambitious; we mean it. We are always looking at the ways in which we can improve and be the best that we can, providing the best for the people who live, work, visit and operate businesses in the Borough.

We have big plans for the future and massive opportunities ahead. We are one of the most successful enterprise zones in the country, Great Yarmouth is England’s offshore energy hub and Norfolk’s biggest seaside resort at the edge of the Broads National Park. The challenges we face in the borough are wide, but our commitment to achieving more has never been so focused.

We know that our team members are our most valuable asset, working hard to achieve our short and long term goals. Find out more about the people who work with us, and if you are as ambitious as we are, apply now and be part of our team.

We offer a range of exciting benefits as an employer and are committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and the services we provide.

There is more information on the Jobs page of the Great Yarmouth Borough Website, with details of how to apply and the recruitment process. You will also be able to find more details regarding DBS checks (if relevant for the job role), Right to Work checks, along with details of our values and behaviours, agile working and our Privacy Notice.