Planning Technical Support Officer
| Posting date: | 31 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £26,824 to £31,022 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 17 August 2025 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Are you organised, detail‑driven, and enjoy working in a role where no two days are the same? As a Planning Technical Support Officer, you will be at the heart of our busy planning service, helping to shape the future of Reading by supporting the processing of planning applications that impact how our town grows and develops. Reading is a vibrant town subject to considerable development growth but that brings with it a large and varied amount of work for the Council’s planning team.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role:
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Planning Technical Support Team, where you will play a key role in validating and administering planning applications, along with a variety of other tasks handled by the Team.
You will work closely with Planning Officers on casework while also being a first point of contact for customers, responding to enquiries on all aspects of development in Reading as well as property history.
About you:
Qualities and Experience required for this role:
You have some experience working in local government or a similar customer‑focused office environment and enjoy providing a high level of service.
You’re a clear communicator, both in writing and in person, and you’re confident using basic maths in your day‑to‑day work.
You know how to organise your workload effectively, manage your time well, and meet deadlines without compromising on accuracy.
You’re equally comfortable working independently – including from home – and collaborating as part of a supportive team.
You’re confident using IT systems to keep accurate records, manage data, and support smooth administrative processes.
You’ll be part of a team of Technical Support Officers where each individual plays their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
A nursery in our Civic Offices (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Nicola Bennett – Senior Planning Technical Support Officer: nicola.bennett@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Sunday 17th August 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role:
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Planning Technical Support Team, where you will play a key role in validating and administering planning applications, along with a variety of other tasks handled by the Team.
You will work closely with Planning Officers on casework while also being a first point of contact for customers, responding to enquiries on all aspects of development in Reading as well as property history.
About you:
Qualities and Experience required for this role:
You have some experience working in local government or a similar customer‑focused office environment and enjoy providing a high level of service.
You’re a clear communicator, both in writing and in person, and you’re confident using basic maths in your day‑to‑day work.
You know how to organise your workload effectively, manage your time well, and meet deadlines without compromising on accuracy.
You’re equally comfortable working independently – including from home – and collaborating as part of a supportive team.
You’re confident using IT systems to keep accurate records, manage data, and support smooth administrative processes.
You’ll be part of a team of Technical Support Officers where each individual plays their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
A nursery in our Civic Offices (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Nicola Bennett – Senior Planning Technical Support Officer: nicola.bennett@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Sunday 17th August 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.