Where To Find a Local Authority Town Planning Job
27 Feb, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- Where to find a local authority town planning job.
- The benefits of a local authority town planning job.
- Where the latest local authority town planning jobs are and how to apply for them.
Town planning can be a competitive job market and knowing where to find a local authority town planning job can be a minefield. As experts within local authority town planning recruitment, we’re on hand to share our advice for finding a town planning job and sharing the benefits to pursuing this career.
Where to find a local authority town planning job
Town Planners who are searching for a local authority town planning job which utilises their skills and experience must use a targeted job search approach. Local planning authorities often operate stringent recruitment processes and therefore Town Planners are advised to check out the following steps to find a suitable local authority town planning job:
- Utilise recruitment agencies.
- Look on generic job boards.
- Explore specialist job boards.
- Visit local authority websites.
Utilise recruitment agencies
Recruitment agencies are an extremely valuable resource for jobseekers to find a local authority town planning job as they operate as an intermediary between Town Planners looking for a new role and local authorities who are hiring.
At Spencer Clarke Group, we support many local authority planning departments across the UK with their staffing needs. We possess in-depth market knowledge of planning, development and regeneration and our specialist consultants are on hand to match the skills, expertise and experience of jobseekers to a town planning position that will allow them to thrive.
Recruitment agencies are an excellent support to jobseekers who are struggling to juggle their career search with the demands of their current role and a busy personal life. Specialist agencies will carry out the job search on the behalf of jobseekers and are on hand to provide guidance and support from an initial phone call to placement.
Recruitment agencies are also the best place to find exclusive opportunities that are not advertised elsewhere and many local authorities utilise recruitment agencies for filling vacancies quickly.
For jobseekers who are unsure of how the recruitment process works or lack the confidence to negotiate their own salaries, benefits and contract terms, there is no need to worry. Recruitment agencies will act on behalf of their candidates and take any complicated administration off their hands.
Look on generic job boards
Generic job boards, such as Indeed and CV Library, allow jobseekers to filter jobs by their preferred location, salary, experience and more and also provide the opportunity to create alerts that will notify when town planning jobs matching their criteria are released.
The pros of searching across generic job boards are that they aggregate job postings from multiple sources. This means there is an increased chance of finding roles that match a Town Planners individual credentials. They are also free to use and accessible at any time meaning a planning professional can complete a job search at a time that fits around other commitments. Generic job boards also allow jobseekers to submit several applications in a short amount of time, however it is advisable to tailor CVs and applications to individual town planning vacancies.
Town Planners should be aware that the competition across generic job boards can be tough as such places attract many jobseekers. They may also fall victim to housing listings that are outdated or so generic that a Town Planner has to complete additional research into the company the role is at.
Explore specialist job boards
Specialist job boards, such as The Planner, which focus exclusively on town planning positions and roles within related fields are another important place for local authority Town Planners to conduct their job search.
Specialist job boards often have industry specific job filters allowing Town Planners to search within a specific planning discipline, salary range or public and private sector.
Generally, specialist job boards will provide a higher quality of listings and some local authorities may choose to only list roles on industry-specific platforms.
Town Planners on the lookout for a new role within local authority should be aware however that specialist job boards may have fewer listings than generic job boards and some even require a paid membership or restrict access for those using a free version.
Visit local authority websites
It goes without saying that when looking for a local authority town planning job, it is worthwhile taking a look on local authority websites.
As well as finding potential job opportunities, taking a look through a local government website is also a great way to get a feel for the local government and learn more about how they operate.
A thorough understanding of a local authority will stand those who secure a job interview in good stead for impressing a hiring manager.
Local authority websites are also likely to contain information on their key personnel, which can create networking opportunities for jobseekers.
When looking on local authority websites however, jobseekers should be aware that there may be many people looking in the same place, therefore there might be high competition for one position.
Things to consider when searching for a local authority town planning job
Things to consider when searching for a local authority town planning job include:
- Understand the local authority planning structure.
- Develop knowledge around UK planning policy.
- Pursue the relevant qualifications.
- Consider temporary or interim positions.
- Network with planning professionals.
Understand the local authority planning structure
To find a local authority town planning job, it’s essential that Town Planners have a solid understanding of how local planning authorities operate.
Within the UK, local authorities oversee various parts of town planning such as policy planning, processing planning applications and ensuring that they are compliant with planning regulations.
The structure of a local authority can affect available planning roles and therefore Town Planners looking for a new job are advised to research the structure of a local government in order to find a role suited to their skills.
Develop knowledge around UK planning policy
Knowledge surrounding key legislation within the planning sector is essential for those looking for a local authority town planning position. A solid understanding of the National Planning Policy Framework, which refers to the government's planning policies and efforts towards sustainable development, will stand town planning professionals in good stead for securing a new position.
Pursue the relevant qualifications
Generally, town planning positions within local authority require a professional to have a degree in town planning, urban planning, geography or a field related to town planning. Being a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or demonstrating that membership will be secured in the near future might make it easier for Town Planners to find a role within a local authority. Postgraduate qualifications can also enhance a person’s job prospects and open the door to further opportunities within town planning.
Consider temporary or interim positions
Local authorities are often looking for contract professionals to join a team and hit the ground running. This means they are on the lookout for experienced Town Planners who will require little to no training.
Being open to contracting is one of the best ways to find a new opportunity within a local authority and such roles are often filled by recruitment agencies.
At Spencer Clarke Group, we work alongside hundreds of local authorities and local planning departments across the UK and have a proven track record of placing temporary Town Planners into teams nationwide. Within these roles, Town Planners have been able to attribute their skills and experience to the success of complex projects.
Additionally, contract positions offer a great opportunity for Town Planners to build their professional network and learn from others in the sector.
Network with planning professionals
Building a network of like-minded professionals can be of great benefit when it comes to finding local authority town planning jobs. Sometimes, it’s not about what you know, but who you know and the more a Town Planner makes efforts to connect with others in the sector, the more chance they have of opening the door to new job opportunities.
Becoming a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and utilising platforms such as LinkedIn are great ways to expand a professional network.
The benefits of a local authority town planning job
There are many benefits to pursuing a town planning position within a local council. For example, local planning authorities offer Town Planners the opportunity to enhance their skills and shape local communities for the better.
Town planning recruitment specialist, Josh Draycott, says, “Exposure to a wide range of projects can help Town Planners to hone their skills, improve their ability to adapt to changing environments and maintain compliance with planning regulations.”
Local authority town planning jobs also provide a positive work-life balance and the opportunity to engage with local communities. Along with this, they offer Town Planners the ability to influence long-term development and contribute towards the UK governments net-zero by 2050 target.
Contact a town planning recruitment specialist
Josh Draycott is a dedicated private sector and local authority Town Planning recruitment specialist with a diverse background in recruitment.
With a strong focus on the planning industry, Josh recruits for a wide range of roles, including Town Planners, Policy Planners, Urban Planners, Development Management Planners and Directors of Planning. His expertise lies in sourcing both interim and permanent talent to meet the planning objectives of his clients.
Planning jobs
If you’re searching for your next town planning job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Town planning recruitment services
As town planning recruitment specialists, we support local authorities and private sector businesses nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent recruitment needs.
Josh has built long-standing, trusted relationships with numerous local council planning departments, delivering tailored recruitment solutions that address the dynamic and evolving demands of the town planning sector.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, get in touch with Josh Draycott on 01772 954200 to see how we can help.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
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