Senior Urban Design Officer

Our Development Management Service plays a vital role in delivering sustainable, well-designed development that supports Wiltshire’s communities, economy, and natural environment. As part of this service, the Conservation and Design Team champions design excellence, place-making, and policy-led outcomes across the county.

As a Senior Urban Design Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping high-quality residential, employment, and mixed-use development. You will provide expert design advice on a wide range of planning applications, supporting economic growth while safeguarding environmental quality and local character.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across Planning and Environment, and with external partners, you will balance competing priorities to achieve the best design outcomes. Your role will include assessing major and complex schemes, with a focus on character, context, movement, public realm, and building design, and providing clear, constructive guidance to improve proposals.

You will also contribute to wider policy and regeneration work, including leading design briefs, supporting development plan documents, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams. As a senior member of the service, you will mentor colleagues and help maintain high standards of quality and consistency, while providing authoritative advice to Members, officers, stakeholders, and the public.

To succeed, you will hold a recognised degree-level qualification in urban design, architecture, or a related discipline. You will have strong technical knowledge and be an effective communicator, able to explain complex issues clearly, negotiate positive outcomes, and manage a varied workload.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the quality of Wiltshire’s built environment and leave a lasting legacy.

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Find out more about Our Identity, staff networks, and employee benefits here.

Our hybrid working model means office staff are on site for at least half their hours, community-based staff carry out at least half their admin time in a workplace, and customer‑facing roles work entirely from their service location.

We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity.

We understand that AI tools can support you in preparing job applications. However, we value authenticity and would encourage you to ensure your submission genuinely reflects your own experiences, skills, and motivations. 

We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services. 

Statement of commitment to equality and inclusion 

Disability Confident Employer 

Application process

Wiltshire Council does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate details from recruitment agencies that are not appointed under a current, valid contract or approved supplier arrangement (including through our neutral vendor, Comensura).

Submission of unsolicited CVs or candidate details to the Council, whether directly or to individual employees, will not be considered as an introduction and will not create any obligation on the Council to pay any fees. If a candidate whose details have been submitted speculatively is subsequently appointed through a compliant route, no agency fee will be payable in respect of the unsolicited submission.

Agencies wishing to work with the Council must do so only via our approved procurement processes and neutral vendor arrangements.