Senior Landscape Officer

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Job Description

• East Suffolk Council, Riverside (Lowestoft) or East Suffolk House (Melton)

• £44,075 - £48,226 per annum

• 37 hours per week

• Permanent

Help shape East Suffolk's landscapes, places and communities.

East Suffolk is one of the largest and most diverse districts in the UK, from expansive coastlines and riverside estuaries to rural farmland, market towns and historic settlements. Our landscapes are a defining part of East Suffolk's identity and play a vital role in climate resilience, biodiversity, placemaking, and the wellbeing of our communities.

We are looking for a Senior Landscape Officer to join our ambitious and multidisciplinary Specialist Services team, working alongside experts in design, heritage, arboriculture, ecology and rights of way. You'll play a key role in ensuring that development across the district responds to landscape character, local distinctiveness, and environmental priorities.

This is an exciting time to join us, with major place-shaping projects underway, including new Garden Neighbourhoods, coastal regeneration projects, strategic infrastructure schemes (NSIPs) and district-wide design coding work.

What you'll be doing

You will be the Council's technical lead for landscape matters, providing expert advice on development proposals ranging from small sites to nationally significant projects. You will:

• Provide specialist landscape advice on planning applications, pre-applications and strategic growth sites.

• Assess Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA), Landscape and Visual Appraisals, and other supporting information.

• Contribute to masterplans, Supplementary Planning Documents, Local Plans and Design Codes, embedding landscape principles and green/blue infrastructure from the outset.

• Negotiate with applicants and consultants to secure high-quality landscape outcomes and design enhancements.

• Represent the Council at Planning Committees, Design Review Panels, Public Inquiries and Hearings, acting as expert witness where required.

• Undertake site visits and condition compliance checks to monitor the delivery of approved schemes.

• Prepare clear, concise reports and briefings for senior officers, Members and committees.

• Lead or support community and stakeholder engagement on landscape and placemaking matters.

This is not just a casework role, you'll influence projects and policies that will safeguard East Suffolk's landscape for future generations.

About you

You'll bring a strong blend of technical expertise, creativity and collaboration, including:

• Degree (or equivalent) in Landscape Architecture or related discipline.

• Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) - or working towards chartership.

• Significant experience assessing landscape and visual impacts within the planning process.

• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills with the ability to influence positive outcomes.

• Confidence presenting at committees and public meetings.

• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a commitment to high-quality placemaking.

• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for site visits across the district, with flexibility to occasionally work outside normal hours.

If you don't meet every single requirement but feel you have the passion and potential to thrive in the role, we'd still love to hear from you.

Why join us?

At East Suffolk Council, you'll be part of a supportive and forward-thinking team where landscape, design and placemaking are genuinely valued. We offer:

• A multidisciplinary environment - work alongside landscape architects, ecologists, designers and heritage specialists.

• Opportunities to develop your career, supported by training, professional memberships and CPD.

• Involvement in high-profile design and planning projects with real impact on local communities.

You can read more about how we work and our collaborative approach in our Specialist Services Prospectus Specialist Services Prospectus link.

Why work for us?

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work.

In addition to the rural and urban diversity of East Suffolk itself, the district is close to the large urban centres of both Norwich and Ipswich, with rail services providing access to the Council's offices by train. We might be 'on the edge' but we can be accessed easily from a wide area (jpg)and offer flexible and remote working in a dynamic team.

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Great opportunities for training and development

• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays)

• Local government pension scheme

• Free car parking (for when you are working in the office)

• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.

Please see our benefits brochure for further information.

The majority of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were the successful candidate, please contact the recruiting manager listed at the bottom of this advert.

For more information

You can find out more about planning in East Suffolk and the work we do on our planning recruitment webpage.

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Nicholas Newton, Principal Landscape and Arboriculture Officer, on 01394 444241 or email Nicholas.Newton@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.

Closing date: Friday 5th December 2025 - 12 noon

Interview date: Week commencing 15th December 2025 - Interviews held in Melton, Suffolk

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification

Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template. Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).

Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.

For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site.

About Us

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people's lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.

To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWedQksWt0