Senior Landscape Officer

Senior Landscape Officer – East Suffolk Council

Join to apply for the Senior Landscape Officer role at East Suffolk Council.

Address:
Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 0EQ
and East Suffolk House, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1RT

Hours:

37 hours per week

Contract:

Permanent

Salary: £44,075 - £48,226 per annum

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.

• 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 an 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.
• Influence projects and policies that safeguard East Suffolk’s landscape for future generations.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 (pdf) for further 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 by calling or by emailing nichol

12:00 pm, 20 January 2026.

Week commencing 26 January 2026, interviews held in Melton, Suffolk.