Development Contributions Officer, Planning Policy Team

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Development Contributions Officer to join our Development Contributions Team, which is a specialist sub-team within the wider Planning Policy department. This team plays a vital role in securing, monitoring and managing development contributions, specifically through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and S106 planning obligations. These contributions are collected from new sites that are granted planning permission. Development contributions are essential to ensure that new development across North Somerset is supported by infrastructure that our communities need - such as roads, schools, open spaces and community facilities.

You will support the process for securing, monitoring and managing development contributions. We are looking for someone who is proactive, learns new skills quickly and confidently, and takes ownership of their workload. The postholder will need to have strong analytical and numeracy skills and the ability to work with specialist software. Effective communication with a range of stakeholders such as developers, planning applicants and town and parish councils is essential in this role.

In the longer term there will be wider opportunities to contribute to the work of the Planning Policy Team including the planning and delivery of development and infrastructure. This is a career graded post which means that, subject to the needs of the business, we can support you to progress and develop your career with us.

Key Responsibilities:

Supporting the process for securing, monitoring and managing CIL and S106 by:

• Developing your knowledge and confidence to carry out your responsibilities in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and procedures
• Reviewing planning application documents and interpreting and measuring approved plans
• Managing a caseload of individual applications and cases with an appropriate level of supervision and support
• Recording and retrieving data accurately using specialist software
• Communicating effectively with stakeholders such as developers, planning applicants, town and parish councils, colleagues and local residents
• Maintaining accurate records to support the preparation of statutory returns such as the Infrastructure Funding Statement, Residential Land Survey and Self & Custom Build Housing Return
• Providing development contributions data and advice as required
• Assisting with input into policies and strategies for securing development contributions, including the preparation, implementation, and review of supplementary planning guidance
• Contributing to other planning policy development and infrastructure delivery planning as required

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be arranged.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• Work both from home and the office. While this position is based in the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, we operate a hybrid working environment. Most of the team predominantly work from home however, we currently attend the office as a team once a week, or more frequently depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

Previous experience of the planning system would be an advantage for this post but is not essential as training will be given to help you develop a specialist knowledge over time. We are looking for someone who is proactive, keen to learn and develop their knowledge and wants to help us deliver sustainable development that meets the needs of our local communities.

The successful candidate will need to be organised and able to prioritise a varied workload effectively. You will be expected to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines. You will need to work collaboratively and with a wide range of other teams across the council, such as finance, planning, education and highways.

We would like to find someone who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Strong literacy and numeracy skills and good attention to detail.
• The ability to use ICT systems effectively.
• Confident verbal and written communication skills to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and priorities with an appropriate level of supervision.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working in development contributions, planning or a related field.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, processes and practices, or experience of working in a regulatory environment.
• Experience of managing a caseload, workload or portfolio of work.
• Good customer service skills.
• Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel around North Somerset.

Please see the job description for a full detailed list of criteria.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact in North Somerset, please select the apply online. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Marcus Hewlett, Planning Policy Assistant Manager, at: marcus.hewlett@n-somerset.gov.uk or 01934 426331

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: week commencing 5 October 2026. Note interviews to be held in person at the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.