Salary and grade
Grade 6, £42,576 - £48,530 per year (Pro Rata)
Duration of role
Permanent
Hours per week
33.4
Location
: The designated office base is Abbey House, Abingdon. The councils operate in a truly flexible, and hybrid way where the focus is on outcomes not where you work.
Closing date
: Monday 1 July (midnight)
About the role and what we're looking for
This role provides an opportunity to develop your skills and professional development within a shared Planning Service.
You will be responsible for the effective processing of planning applications, enforcement work, appeals and policy work in accordance with best practice, local and government performance targets and the provision of professional advice on a wide range of planning matters ensuring a development team approach to the customer.
Main duties and responsibilities are:
- processing a range of planning and associated applications including, enforcement work, appeals and policy work
- providing professional advice face to face, on the telephone and in writing on behalf of the Council in respect of planning and related issues, including providing pre-application advice
- presenting applications to planning committee
- dealing with enforcement matters and carrying out associated duties as and when required
- preparing a range of appeal cases including written representations
- hearings and Public Inquiries and managing the process independently, representing the council as a witness when required
- undertaking specific projects within the Planning Service as and when required
- providing professional advice face to face, on the telephone and in writing on behalf of the Council in respect of planning and related issues, including providing pre-application advice with the ability to work on and assess the proposals independently
The duties may vary from time to time without changing the nature of the post or the level of responsibility and the post holder may also be required to carry out any other duties appropriate to the grading of the post.
About you
Your essential skills are:
- Excellent strong IT skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet and email
- Good report and professional letter writing skills, demonstrating the ability to manage the majority of your case load independently
- be able to give clear, accurate advice on procedure
- good oral and written communication skills
- ability to interpret scale drawings and Ordnance Survey maps
- investigative, methodical and accurate approach to work
- ability to organise and prioritise a high and constantly changing caseload
- ability to make assessments and decisions independently
- ability to take individual responsibility for caseload and meet performance targets
- ability to work as a part of a team and support team members
- demonstrate a commitment to diversity and equality
Your essential qualifications are:
- Planning degree (or currently undertaking this), or equivalent level of qualification
- Minimum of 3 years' experience in a related area to planning
- Membership of the RTPI or Licentiate member or in the process of applying for this
If you have the following experience or qualifications – it's a bonus
- Qualification in a related discipline
- Experience of working in a customer focussed environment and dealing with difficult customers
Work related requirements:
This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2017; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.
The benefits we offer
- A basic 25 days annual leave per annum, rising to 30 days after five years. You also have all the bank holidays to look forward to and time off between Christmas and New Year.
- Flexible working and annualised hours – a flexible approach to work that our employees love!
- Salary pay awards – most jobs give scope for a pay increase after six months or the following April (depending on your start date) and we also review salaries each April.
- A generous career average pension scheme which includes life insurance of three times your salary
- The opportunity to purchase a bike through Cyclescheme (cheaper than directly through a store) so that you can cycle to work!
- Various schemes to keep you healthy (reduced gym membership, free swims, free eye tests for DSE users and more)
- We give you two days per year to volunteer within the local community.
- A range of resources, support, and activities to help you maintain your wellbeing including a monthly wellbeing hour in addition to annualised hours (the ability to work flexibly as long as, over the course of the year, you complete your contracted hours) and annual leave.
We look forward to hearing from you.
You may also have experience in the following: Senior Planning Officer, Local Authority, Policy, Town Planning, Council, Planner, Project Management, Planning Policy Manager, Town Planner, Legislation, RTPI, Sustainability, etc.
REF-214 754