Principal Planning Policy Officer


Company:	Triumph Consultants Ltd
Salary:	£200.20 to £200.20 a day
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	London
Job type:	Temporary
Posting date:	30 Oct 2026
Closing date:	28 Nov 2026

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Summary

What's involved with this role:

Job Title: Principal Planning Policy Officer

Location: London (Hybrid Working Available)

Sector: Local Government

Ref: 8380

Rate: £ 200.20 pd PAYE (flexible holiday pay options)

Contract: Interim, 6 months

Working Pattern: Full Time

Hybrid Working: Yes

The Role

Our client, a highly regarded London local authority, is seeking an experienced Principal Planning Policy Officer to play a leading role in shaping and delivering its planning policy agenda. This is a senior position within the planning policy team, responsible for driving the development, implementation and review of strategic planning policies that support sustainable growth and place-shaping objectives.

The successful candidate will provide expert planning policy advice, lead complex policy projects, manage commissioned evidence studies and represent the organisation at examinations, inquiries and stakeholder forums. The role also includes deputising for senior management when required and supporting the development of junior planning policy professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the preparation, implementation, monitoring and review of Local Plan policies and related planning strategy documents.

Manage the development of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and other planning guidance to support policy delivery.

Commission, manage and quality assure specialist evidence studies, including briefing and overseeing external consultants.

Prepare, present and defend planning policy evidence at Examinations in Public, hearings, inquiries and appeals.

Lead public consultation exercises and stakeholder engagement programmes to inform policy development and implementation.

Provide specialist planning policy advice and guidance to senior officers, elected members, developers and external stakeholders.

Deputise for senior planning managers when required, representing the organisation at high-level meetings, partnerships and forums.

Support and supervise junior planning policy staff, ensuring high-quality service delivery and continuous professional development.

You Will Need (Essential Requirements)

Significant experience of planning policy and plan-making within a local authority or comparable planning environment.

Proven track record of leading the preparation, review and delivery of Local Plans, SPDs or related planning policy documents.

Strong knowledge of UK planning legislation, national planning policy and best practice guidance.

Experience of managing complex planning policy projects, evidence bases and consultant-led studies.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting evidence and representing organisations at public examinations, hearings or inquiries.

Desirable Experience

Previous experience managing or mentoring planning policy staff.

Experience acting as a deputy to senior planning leadership.

Chartered membership of the RTPI or eligibility to obtain membership.

Experience working within a London borough or metropolitan authority.

Experience of delivering major regeneration, growth or place-shaping programmes through planning policy.

How to Apply

If you meet the essential criteria, please send your CV, rate expectation (in line with the above) and confirmation of Right to Represent confirmation to: toni.coates@tclrec.com

Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.

Job Ref: RQ1797640

Anticipated Length of Assignment: Unless otherwise stated (we do carry the occasional permanent vacancy) all of our roles are technically temporary, though opening assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Please do try to resist contacting us with requests for progress updates.

We really do read every CV sent to us. All applications will be acknowledged by a human, not a robot, provided the job remains live and provided your CV meets the “Essential Requirements” listed.

Please note that we do our level best to take down ads as soon as roles have been filled. We are not in the business of harvesting CVs.

Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary.

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