Role: Senior Planning Policy Officer REF 1737385
Contract Length: 3 months+
Location: Hybrid/Towcester – 2 days in office per week
IR35: Inside
Pay Rate to Intermediary: £33.95 per hour
Spinwell is recruiting for a Senior Planning Policy Officer for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR PLANNING POLICY OFFICER
- To make a proactive and positive contribution to the effective delivery of the Planning Service, this will include working flexibly and positively to achieve the objectives of the council.
- To deliver excellent customer service in every interaction for all internal and external customers, including Councillors.
- To respond in a timely and professional manner to requests for support from members of the public seeking to engage with the Planning Service. This will include providing support to the Customer Contact Centre and the Complaints and Customer Feedback teams where required.
- To support timely responses to customer, MP and Councillor complaints and feedback to ensure the Planning Service is consistently meeting corporate service standards.
- To support the regular entry of data into DEF and our IT systems to ensure the Planning Service is consistently meeting, and exceeding, its statutory and corporate Performance Indicators and demonstrating best practice.
- To implement the Council’s place shaping agenda and its objective to be positive and proactive in terms of allowing the 'right schemes' in the 'right place' at the ‘right time’.
- To provide support on all aspects of the preparation and review of Local Plans, Neighbourhood Plans and Supplementary Planning Documents and other planning policy/guidance.
- To research and advise the Council of its statutory obligations in relation to land-use planning policy and development planning issues, U.K. Government, strategic and Sub-regional Planning Policy, and the Development Plans of other authorities as required.
- To liaise with and advise Development Management colleagues, other officers of the Council and other Local Authorities, statutory bodies, developers and the general public on the Council’s land use policy and any development planning matters.
- To contribute to the monitoring of development and projections of future development activity and the production of the five-year land supply report.
- To initiate, organise and undertake research and surveys in relation to Local Plan Policy and oversee the maintenance of information databases.
- To attend site visits, meetings with external organisations, Planning Policy Committee and working parties as and when required.
- To negotiate with prospective developers, and statutory undertakers, informing them of Council policy and advising them how to proceed in order that they can plan their investment programmes.
- To support the preparation of EIP papers/planning appeal statements/proofs of evidence in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, the Development Plan, guidance and policy, within strict time limits.Represent the Council at Examination in Public, appeal site visits, informal hearings and public inquiries as a professional expert witness.
- To support the Assistant Director and Head of Planning Policy and Specialist Services with aspects of process improvement and systems review where needed.
- To support the Assistant Director and Head of Planning Policy and Specialist Services with the delivery of aspects of the Planning Service’s Communications and Engagement Strategy where required.
- To support the Assistant Director and Head of Planning Policy and Specialist Services with the co-ordination of relevant Fora, Member training, Parish and Town Council training and staff CPD programmes as required.
- To take responsibility and encourage personal development and continuous improvement within the team alongside the Planning Policy Team Leader to develop a thorough understanding of current issues, processes, legislation or systems.
- To support the Planning Policy Team Leader in the training and support of Career Grade Officer and Apprentices within the team and the Planning Service.
- To follow, at all times, all planning and other legislation such as Data Protection - GDPR, Freedom of Information (FOI) and Health & Safety at work.
- To undertake any other duties commensurate with the general level of responsibility of this post.
SKILLS/EXPERIENCE OF THE SENIOR PLANNING POLICY OFFICER
- Displays a positive, ‘can do’, proactive and supportive attitude in a team environment
- Consistently strives for continuous improvement and excellence
- Time/priority management: high level of proficiency
- Ability to work under pressure, handle stress and to deadlines
- Displays good attention to detail and accurate research skills
- Verbal: excellent level of professional ability; exhibits a clear & comprehensible verbal style
- Self-awareness: Ability to communicate and display consistent professional conduct with a wide range of people, in person, by telephone and email
- Writing: excellent level of professional ability; exhibits a clear & comprehensible writing style in line with Plain English principles
- General IT skills: basic keyboard/typing skills, use of Windows, word- processing and email. Demonstrate effective use of Office 365 (incl. Teams, OneDrive, etc.) or willingness to undertake training during the probation period.
- Sound knowledge of planning policy, legislation and guidance
- Good knowledge of working effectively in a political environment with a wide range of stakeholders
- Recent experience of planning policy formulation and project work
- Relevant undergraduate degree
- A member of the RTPI or demonstratively working towards APC as a Licentiate member
If you are a Senior Planning Policy Officer, apply now or send your CV to Spinwell!
We welcome all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
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