diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/board/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/board/page.tsx
index 54ee879..0d5bf9d 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/board/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/board/page.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { headers as nextHeaders } from "next/headers";
 import { notFound, redirect } from "next/navigation";
 import { getPayload } from "payload";
 import { ProjectBoardView } from "@/components/frontend/projects/ProjectBoardView";
+import { hasPermission } from "@/utils/access-control/hasPermission";
 
 export const metadata = {
   title: "Board — Polaris Task Force",
@@ -10,10 +11,14 @@ export const metadata = {
 
 const KANBAN_STATUSES = [
   { status: "open", label: "Open" },
+  { status: "planning", label: "Planning" },
   { status: "in_progress", label: "In Progress" },
   { status: "in_review", label: "In Review" },
+  { status: "waiting_on_reporter", label: "Waiting on Reporter" },
   { status: "in_testing", label: "Testing" },
   { status: "resolved", label: "Done" },
+  { status: "canceled", label: "Canceled" },
+  { status: "closed", label: "Closed" },
 ] as const;
 
 export default async function BoardPage({
@@ -43,6 +48,7 @@ export default async function BoardPage({
   }
 
   const project = projectResult.docs[0] as any;
+  const canManageTickets = await hasPermission(payload, user, "tickets:staff");
 
   const [ticketResult, sprintResult, labelResult] = await Promise.all([
     payload.find({
@@ -147,7 +153,7 @@ export default async function BoardPage({
           project: l.project,
         }))}
         currentUserId={user.id as number}
-        isAdmin={true}
+        isAdmin={canManageTickets}
       />
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/releases/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/releases/page.tsx
index b987163..5a48c41 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/releases/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/releases/page.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { headers as nextHeaders } from "next/headers";
 import { notFound, redirect } from "next/navigation";
 import { getPayload } from "payload";
 import { ReleasesView } from "@/components/frontend/projects/ReleasesView";
+import { hasPermission } from "@/utils/access-control/hasPermission";
+import { richTextToPlaintext } from "@/lib/projects/projectMeta";
 
 export const metadata = {
   title: "Releases — Polaris Task Force",
@@ -35,6 +37,8 @@ export default async function ReleasesPage({
   }
 
   const project = projectResult.docs[0] as any;
+  const canManage = await hasPermission(payload, user, "releases:update");
+  const canCreate = await hasPermission(payload, user, "releases:create");
 
   const [releaseResult, ticketResult] = await Promise.all([
     payload.find({
@@ -75,7 +79,7 @@ export default async function ReleasesPage({
       status: r.status,
       targetVersion: r.targetVersion,
       releaseDate: r.releaseDate,
-      description: r.description,
+      description: richTextToPlaintext(r.description) || null,
       createdAt: r.createdAt,
       ticketsTotal,
       ticketsResolved,
@@ -91,7 +95,7 @@ export default async function ReleasesPage({
           key: project.key,
         }}
         releases={releases}
-        isAdmin={true}
+        isAdmin={canManage || canCreate}
       />
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/sprints/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/sprints/page.tsx
index 670da5c..0ad605b 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/sprints/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/[key]/sprints/page.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { headers as nextHeaders } from "next/headers";
 import { notFound, redirect } from "next/navigation";
 import { getPayload } from "payload";
 import { SprintsView } from "@/components/frontend/projects/SprintsView";
+import { hasPermission } from "@/utils/access-control/hasPermission";
 
 export const metadata = {
   title: "Sprints — Polaris Task Force",
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ export default async function SprintsPage({
   }
 
   const project = projectResult.docs[0] as any;
+  const canManage = await hasPermission(payload, user, "sprints:update");
+  const canCreate = await hasPermission(payload, user, "sprints:create");
 
   const [sprintResult, ticketResult] = await Promise.all([
     payload.find({
@@ -97,7 +100,7 @@ export default async function SprintsPage({
           key: project.key,
         }}
         sprints={sprints}
-        isAdmin={true}
+        isAdmin={canManage || canCreate}
       />
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/actions.ts b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/actions.ts
index aed0719..64ada1e 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/actions.ts
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/actions.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,16 @@ async function authenticate() {
   return { payload, user };
 }
 
+async function requirePermission(
+  payload: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getPayload>>,
+  user: Parameters<typeof hasPermission>[1],
+  permission: Parameters<typeof hasPermission>[2],
+) {
+  if (!(await hasPermission(payload, user, permission))) {
+    throw new Error("You don't have permission to manage project tracking.");
+  }
+}
+
 export async function createProject(input: {
   name: string;
   key: string;
@@ -31,6 +41,7 @@ export async function createProject(input: {
 }): Promise<ActionResult> {
   try {
     const { payload, user } = await authenticate();
+    await requirePermission(payload, user, "projects:create");
 
     const name = input.name.trim();
     if (!name) throw new Error("Project name is required.");
@@ -93,6 +104,7 @@ export async function createSprint(input: {
 }): Promise<ActionResult> {
   try {
     const { payload, user } = await authenticate();
+    await requirePermission(payload, user, "sprints:create");
 
     const name = input.name.trim();
     if (!name) throw new Error("Sprint name is required.");
@@ -132,6 +144,7 @@ export async function startSprint(input: {
 }): Promise<ActionResult> {
   try {
     const { payload, user } = await authenticate();
+    await requirePermission(payload, user, "sprints:update");
 
     const sprint = await payload.update({
       collection: "sprints" as any,
@@ -161,6 +174,7 @@ export async function completeSprint(input: {
 }): Promise<ActionResult> {
   try {
     const { payload, user } = await authenticate();
+    await requirePermission(payload, user, "sprints:update");
 
     const sprint = await payload.update({
       collection: "sprints" as any,
@@ -190,6 +204,7 @@ export async function startRelease(input: {
 }): Promise<ActionResult> {
   try {
     const { payload, user } = await authenticate();
+    await requirePermission(payload, user, "releases:update");
 
     const release = await payload.update({
       collection: "releases" as any,
@@ -219,6 +234,7 @@ export async function completeRelease(input: {
 }): Promise<ActionResult> {
   try {
     const { payload, user } = await authenticate();
+    await requirePermission(payload, user, "releases:update");
 
     const release = await payload.update({
       collection: "releases" as any,
@@ -252,6 +268,7 @@ export async function createRelease(input: {
 }): Promise<ActionResult> {
   try {
     const { payload, user } = await authenticate();
+    await requirePermission(payload, user, "releases:create");
 
     const name = input.name.trim();
     if (!name) throw new Error("Release name is required.");
diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/page.tsx
index d84fc44..2b94955 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/page.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { headers as nextHeaders } from "next/headers";
 import { redirect } from "next/navigation";
 import { getPayload } from "payload";
 import { ProjectsView } from "@/components/frontend/projects/ProjectsView";
+import { hasPermission } from "@/utils/access-control/hasPermission";
+import { richTextToPlaintext } from "@/lib/projects/projectMeta";
 
 export const metadata = {
   title: "Projects — Polaris Task Force",
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ export default async function ProjectsPage() {
     limit: 100,
     overrideAccess: true,
   });
+  const canCreate = await hasPermission(payload, user, "projects:create");
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-6 p-5">
@@ -40,12 +43,12 @@ export default async function ProjectsPage() {
                   p.lead.payloadDisplayName || p.lead.username,
               }
             : null,
-          description: p.description,
+          description: richTextToPlaintext(p.description) || null,
           createdAt: p.createdAt,
           updatedAt: p.updatedAt,
         }))}
         currentUserId={user.id as number}
-        isAdmin={true}
+        isAdmin={canCreate}
       />
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/search/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/search/page.tsx
index 2745f32..f2341a0 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/projects/search/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/projects/search/page.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export default async function SearchPage() {
       collection: "tickets" as any,
       where: { project: { exists: true } },
       depth: 2,
-      limit: 500,
+      pagination: false,
       overrideAccess: true,
     }),
     payload.find({
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export default async function SearchPage() {
     status: t.status,
     priority: t.priority,
     type: t.type || "task",
+    category: t.category,
     storyPoints: t.storyPoints,
     project: t.project
       ? typeof t.project === "object"
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ export default async function SearchPage() {
         ? { id: t.assignee.id, displayName: t.assignee.payloadDisplayName || t.assignee.username }
         : { id: t.assignee, displayName: `User #${t.assignee}` }
       : null,
+    href: `/helpdesk/${t.id}`,
   }));
 
   const labels = (labelResult.docs as any[]).map((l) => ({
diff --git a/src/collections/projects/Projects.ts b/src/collections/projects/Projects.ts
index fcd02c0..54d89a0 100644
--- a/src/collections/projects/Projects.ts
+++ b/src/collections/projects/Projects.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ export const Projects: CollectionConfig = {
   },
   access: {
     read: ({ req }) => !!req.user,
-    create: ({ req }) => !!req.user,
+    create: async ({ req }) => {
+      if (!req.user) return false;
+      return await hasPermission(req.payload, req.user, "projects:create");
+    },
     update: async ({ req }) => {
       if (!req.user) return false;
       return await hasPermission(req.payload, req.user, "projects:update");
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/projects/ProjectSearchView.tsx b/src/components/frontend/projects/ProjectSearchView.tsx
index f83e6cd..a7adae6 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/projects/ProjectSearchView.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/projects/ProjectSearchView.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ import {
   ItemTitle,
 } from "@/components/ui/item";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+import {
+  Select,
+  SelectContent,
+  SelectItem,
+  SelectTrigger,
+  SelectValue,
+} from "@/components/ui/select";
 
 export interface SearchTicket {
   readonly id: number;
@@ -20,10 +27,12 @@ export interface SearchTicket {
   readonly status: string;
   readonly priority: string;
   readonly type: string;
+  readonly category?: string;
   readonly storyPoints?: number | null;
   readonly project: { readonly id: number; readonly name: string; readonly key: string };
   readonly labels: readonly { id: number; name: string; color: string }[];
   readonly assignee: { id: number; displayName: string } | null;
+  readonly href: string;
 }
 
 export interface LabelOption {
@@ -61,6 +70,8 @@ function labelFor(value: string): string {
 export function ProjectSearchView({ tickets, allLabels }: ProjectSearchViewProps) {
   const [search, setSearch] = useState("");
   const [selectedLabelIds, setSelectedLabelIds] = useState<readonly number[]>([]);
+  const [status, setStatus] = useState("all");
+  const [type, setType] = useState("all");
 
   function toggleLabel(labelId: number) {
     setSelectedLabelIds((current) =>
@@ -73,17 +84,19 @@ export function ProjectSearchView({ tickets, allLabels }: ProjectSearchViewProps
   const filteredTickets = useMemo(() => {
     return tickets.filter((ticket) => {
       const matchesSearch = !query
-        || ticket.title.toLowerCase().includes(query)
-        || ticket.project.name.toLowerCase().includes(query)
-        || ticket.project.key.toLowerCase().includes(query);
+        || `${ticket.id} ${ticket.title} ${ticket.status} ${ticket.priority} ${ticket.type} ${ticket.category ?? ""} ${ticket.project.name} ${ticket.project.key} ${ticket.labels.map((label) => label.name).join(" ")}`
+          .toLowerCase()
+          .includes(query);
 
       const matchesLabels =
         selectedLabelIds.length === 0
         || ticket.labels.some((label) => selectedLabelIds.includes(label.id));
+      const matchesStatus = status === "all" || ticket.status === status;
+      const matchesType = type === "all" || ticket.type === type;
 
-      return matchesSearch && matchesLabels;
+      return matchesSearch && matchesLabels && matchesStatus && matchesType;
     });
-  }, [tickets, query, selectedLabelIds]);
+  }, [tickets, query, selectedLabelIds, status, type]);
 
   const groupedByProject = useMemo(() => {
     const groups = new Map<string, { project: SearchTicket["project"]; tickets: SearchTicket[] }>();
@@ -122,6 +135,39 @@ export function ProjectSearchView({ tickets, allLabels }: ProjectSearchViewProps
           />
         </div>
 
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+          <Select value={status} onValueChange={setStatus}>
+            <SelectTrigger className="w-[160px]" aria-label="Filter by status">
+              <SelectValue placeholder="All statuses" />
+            </SelectTrigger>
+            <SelectContent>
+              <SelectItem value="all">All statuses</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="open">Open</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="planning">Planning</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="in_progress">In progress</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="in_review">In review</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="waiting_on_reporter">Waiting on reporter</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="in_testing">Testing</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="resolved">Resolved</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="canceled">Canceled</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="closed">Closed</SelectItem>
+            </SelectContent>
+          </Select>
+          <Select value={type} onValueChange={setType}>
+            <SelectTrigger className="w-[150px]" aria-label="Filter by issue type">
+              <SelectValue placeholder="All types" />
+            </SelectTrigger>
+            <SelectContent>
+              <SelectItem value="all">All types</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="task">Task</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="bug">Bug</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="story">Story</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="epic">Epic</SelectItem>
+              <SelectItem value="improvement">Improvement</SelectItem>
+            </SelectContent>
+          </Select>
+        </div>
+
         {allLabels.length > 0 && (
           <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
             <BadgeIcon className="size-3 text-muted-foreground" />
@@ -177,7 +223,8 @@ export function ProjectSearchView({ tickets, allLabels }: ProjectSearchViewProps
 
               <div className="flex flex-col gap-1 pl-4" role="list">
                 {projectTickets.map((ticket) => (
-                  <Item key={ticket.id} variant="outline" size="sm" role="listitem">
+                  <Link href={ticket.href} key={ticket.id} className="block rounded-md">
+                    <Item variant="outline" size="sm" role="listitem" className="transition-colors hover:bg-accent/50">
                     <ItemHeader className="items-center">
                       <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2">
                         <ItemTitle className="truncate text-sm font-medium">{ticket.title}</ItemTitle>
@@ -220,7 +267,8 @@ export function ProjectSearchView({ tickets, allLabels }: ProjectSearchViewProps
                         </div>
                       )}
                     </ItemContent>
-                  </Item>
+                    </Item>
+                  </Link>
                 ))}
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/src/lib/projects/projectMeta.ts b/src/lib/projects/projectMeta.ts
index 2659ac9..370cfc7 100644
--- a/src/lib/projects/projectMeta.ts
+++ b/src/lib/projects/projectMeta.ts
@@ -19,3 +19,17 @@ export const TYPE_STYLES: Readonly<Record<string, string>> = {
   improvement: "bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-400 border-amber-500/30",
   subtask: "bg-sky-500/15 text-sky-400 border-sky-500/30",
 };
+
+/** Safely extracts readable text from Payload's Lexical rich-text JSON. */
+export function richTextToPlaintext(value: unknown): string {
+  if (typeof value === "string") return value;
+  if (!value || typeof value !== "object") return "";
+
+  const node = value as { text?: unknown; children?: unknown };
+  if (typeof node.text === "string") return node.text;
+  if (!Array.isArray(node.children)) return "";
+  return node.children
+    .map((child) => richTextToPlaintext(child))
+    .filter(Boolean)
+    .join(" ");
+}