Planning technician

Planning technician job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Duties of the work are similar to those carried out by town planners, although planners generally have more responsibility for making recommendations about, devising and implementing local, regional or national planning policies.

Planning technicians undertake much of the related administration and many of the day-to-day practical duties, which include:

• collecting, analysing and interpreting data
• dealing with enquiries
• visiting sites to make inspections
• drawing up plans
• writing reports and publications
• attending meetings
• storing and retrieving plans and records
• organising surveys
• preparing information for leaflets and displays.

Career progression is normally possible via promotion into senior planning technician roles, although it is also possible to qualify as a town planner via appropriate professional courses.

Typical employers of planning technicians

The majority of opportunities for planning technicians arise within local government (county, district, borough and metropolitan councils).

Government planning policies influence employment opportunities in this area of work. Public sector vacancies are always advertised, so speculative applications are not essential. Advertisements appear in local and national newspapers, local authority jobs lists and relevant publications such as TARGETjobs Construction and Building Services, Planning, Opportunities, Municipal Journal and Building.

Qualifications and training required

The minimum academic requirements for entry into the profession are four GCSEs including mathematics. A number of planning technicians have HND (or equivalent) level qualifications, although only a few enter the profession as graduates.

BTEC and higher certificates in land administration are normally obtained via day release once in post. Relevant planning, local authority or administrative work experience can be helpful.

Key skills for planning technicians

• good interpersonal skills
• analytical skills
• attention to detail
• enthusiasm
• a strong visual sense
• verbal and written communication skills.