Planning Assistant Exciting career grade opportunity This job is part of a career grade pathway from Planning Assistant (grade 7) to Senior Planning Officer (grade 9) with Cheshire East Council. Be part of a professional planning team dealing with a wide variety of planning applications. This is the perfect opportunity to develop your career in Development Management in a professional and supportive environment. Professional fees subscription and parking permit are provided in addition to basic salary as well as a range of other employee benefits. Location: Crewe or Macclesfield with flexible office and home working. Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities. At Cheshire East Council we are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities. If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future - together. Brighter Future www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/employee-benefits.aspx Are you looking to begin a rewarding career as a professional town planner? This is a great opportunity to join our thriving planning team. Working in Development Management you will be mentored by an experienced professional planner and will quickly develop responsibility to manage your own diverse caseload of planning applications. The role will provide unrivalled experience to build your career in Planning with a structured pathway to progress. You will need good organisational, report writing and IT skills. You will be a quick learner and have the ability to interpret complex planning policy and legislation. You will have the opportunity to gain experience across the breadth of the planning discipline including Development Management, Spatial Planning, Enforcement, Neighbourhood Planning, Urban Design, Landscape, Ecology, Transport, Community Infrastructure Levy, and Planning Law. We offer flexible working and continuous professional development. The career grade pathway provides a route to Senior Planning Officer level and RTPI membership. You must enjoy a challenge and be a self-motivated team player. The ability to travel throughout Cheshire East and a full UK driving license are required. We provide a flexible and supportive working environment with a range of employee benefits including: Enhanced annual leave: 34 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) from day 1, increasing to 39 days after 5 years service. Enhanced public pension: a career average pension (contributions built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay). Flexible Working: 37-hour standard full time week with flexi time and hybrid / remote working arrangements. Purchase of annual leave: The ability to purchase up to 10 days extra annual leave each year in addition to your normal annual leave entitlements. Cycle to work scheme: receive Income Tax and National Insurance savings of up to 25-39% off the retail price of a bike and safety equipment package (savings dependent on the value of your chosen package and your tax status). Employee Assistance programme: a completely free to use and confidential assistance service for all employees to help staff manage, reduce and overcome the impact of life issues which they may experience from time to time, both within work and their personal life. Virgin Media and O2 discounts: exclusive discounts on Virgin Media Broadband and O2 pay monthly plans. Discounted gym memberships: Access to corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure. For an informal discussion about the role please contact Peter Hooley: peter.hooleycheshireeast.gov.uk PLEASE NOTE: We review applications on a rolling basis which means we may close vacancies earlier if we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, early applications are advised. Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however please do not be discouraged from applying again. For any technical enquiries please email sourcingteamecwip.co.uk Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.