Principal Planning Enforcement Officer
£48,947 - £52,992 per annum, 37 hours per week
Permanent contract
Cirencester/agile working
Are you experienced in planning enforcement and ready to take the next step in your career?
Join Cotswold District Council as our new Principal Planning Enforcement Officer, a pivotal leadership role within our 40-strong Development Management and Enforcement service. You will oversee a team of four while managing your own caseload of complex and high-profile enforcement matters, ranging from small to medium-scale investigations to sensitive, high-profile cases. This is an opportunity to play a key role in protecting the unique character of the Cotswolds, ensuring development is delivered responsibly and in line with policy and legislation.
As part of the service’s leadership group, you will drive forward improvement projects for the wider team, including reviewing internal processes, supporting service modernisation and helping implement new digital and data-driven tools. You will manage and report on team performance, mentor and develop staff, balance varied workloads, and champion a culture of continuous improvement. Strong organisational skills and the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with a wide range of stakeholders, including developers, planning consultants, parish councils, local residents, elected Members, policy and heritage teams, and county colleagues, are essential.
We are seeking an experienced enforcement or planning professional with 3–5 years at senior level, though this role could also suit an ambitious Senior Officer ready to take the step up to Principal level. You will be calm under pressure, skilled at negotiation, and able to navigate multiple viewpoints to achieve positive outcomes. If you are motivated by challenge, passionate about high standards of service delivery, and keen to help shape the future of planning enforcement in the Cotswolds, we would love to hear from you.
You will need
- To be educated to Planning related degree or equivalent in a relevant profession with relevant on the job experience
- To have full Membership/ eligibility for the RTPI.
- Substantial experience at Senior level.
- The ability to facilitate and manage ongoing change
- The ability to resolve complex issues and complaints by negotiation
- The ability to remain calm and confident when dealing with challenging customers and environments or when presenting
- The ability to inspire and successfully motivate others towards shared objectives
Special Conditions
- Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle for work purposes
- This is a politically restricted appointment within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1989 and regulations made there under.
Advert Closing Date: 20th January 2026.
Interview date: 29th January 2026.
For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.
Special Conditions
- Use of a car for work purposes
- This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament
What can we do for you
- Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
- Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
- 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
- An extra two volunteering days per year to support a charity of your choice
- 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