Interim Planning Policy Officer/Manager

Reference no: Lewisham 0007 0353 / 1

Pay rate: Up to £30.00 per hour depending on experience

Please note that the pay rate for this role is likely to be uplifted to reflect a higher than standard holiday allocation

Hybrid role

To support in a range of policy work including supporting the preparation of the Local Plan to Regulation 19 and through to submission.

To provide effective leadership and management of the Council’s Planning Policy Services. This will include managing the delivery of a quality service, covering a wide range of planning policy matters and in particular the preparation, implementation, monitoring and review of the Council’s Local Development Framework documents.

Support the successful running of the team, to ensure workloads and programmes are coordinated and implemented in an affective, high quality manner. This will include deputising for the Head of strategic planning when required.

Key responsibilities:

• Support in a range of policy work including supporting the preparation of the Local Plan to Regulation 19 and through to submission.
• Lead on the management, supervision, review and co-ordination of activities relating to the policy team and consultants engaged in planning policy work, in order to meet the objectives of the service, providing leadership and guidance to maximise their contribution.
• Deputise for the Head of Strategic Planning as required.
• Directly line manage policy officers and provide HR support to the team including 1 to 1s, appraisals and other functions as required.
• Take a leading role in formulating the wider Strategic Planning Team’s work programme in consultation with the Head of Strategic Planning to secure and improve service, quality and efficiency objectives, priorities and timescales.
• Promote staff training to maximise career development opportunities, advise the Head of Strategic Planning on staff performance and take a leading role in the coaching and mentoring of staff.
• Ensure the work of the policy team is accessible, responsive and customer focused, that the community is involved through the implementation of the Council’s public participation and equalities policies and practices, and the completion of the formal stages of the Local Development Framework conforms with the Local Development Scheme in compliance with good practice, legislative requirements, the Statement of Community Involvement and liaison with Government, the Mayor of London, key stakeholders, residents and the community.
• Ensure that the Council’s planning policy documents as set out in the agreed Local Development Scheme are prepared and monitored within agreed timescales and within agreed budgets. In particular provide effective leadership and oversight on the drafting of the new Local Plan which will provide a 20 year strategy for growth and investment in the borough. This will require the effective management of internal and external resources and control on the significant allocated budget for the project.
• Manage key risks to the planning service effectively including but not limited to: responding to the Governments housing delivery test; maintaining a 5 year land supply; monitoring housing delivery; and responding to changes in National and Regional policies in a prompt manner.
• Mange key risks to the delivery of corporate priorities including but not limited to: monitoring affordable housing delivery; monitoring the impact of HMOs within the borough; monitoring the impact of permitted development rights on the Council’s employment and commercial floorspace; reviewing and if necessary strengthening open space protections.

“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:

Qualifications: 

• Fully trained degree or postgraduate Town Planning.
• Membership of a recognised professional body (IHBC, RIBA, RTPI).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience:

• Substantial experience of contributing at a senior level to cross Council initiatives and multi disciplinary projects.
• Experience of assisting with effective staff management, training, and personal development, implementing service improvements and developing staff to ensure consistently high levels of performance and customer care.
• Experience of analysing and transforming planning policy work to the Local Development Framework, setting out planning policies.
• Experience of researching, writing and presenting reports on complex policy issues at corporate management level, Committees and Working Parties, working appropriately and effectively with politicians.
• Experience of leading and giving expert evidence at Public Inquiries and other scrutiny mechanisms.
• Experience of establishing credibility with various stakeholders and pressure groups of the Planning service, particularly in relation to community involvement on key planning policy and regeneration issues.
• Experience of effective collaborative working with outside agencies and corporate development teams.
• Experience of working in a political environment and awareness of political sensitivities.

Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge of Town and Country Planning Acts, Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, Government Planning Policy Guidance, Statements, Regulations and Circulars, Local Development, Local Development Framework regime and procedures, London Plan and regional planning issues, broader Council-wide corporate and planning issues.

Skills:

• Ability to operate in a strategic environment.
• Ability to respond positively and where necessary sensitively to enquiries from the public, Members and other external contacts.
• Ability to contribute at a senior level to cross Council initiatives and multi-disciplinary projects.
• Able to work well under pressure and to deadlines with minimum supervision.
• Ability to set and monitor performance targets and effectively manage staff.
• High-level, clear and concise communication skills, both verbal and written, enabling the development of effective working relationships to influence a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Ability to quickly grasp complex information to arrive at effective outcomes and solutions.
• Sound negotiating skills to achieve creative solutions that enhance heritage assets.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Strong visualisation and mapping skills, including familiarity with computer design packages.
• Strong IT skills using Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).

NB: Please feel free to apply to us direct via [email protected] by quoting the job reference and job title exactly. SEE DETAILS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS AD.

If you have previously applied to one of our vacancies and have already sent the required supporting documentation to us, please make this clear when you re-apply as this will help speed up your application.

To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would suggest that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, rather than as a PDF.

If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension you will be working this role at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than entertaining umbrella pay terms, we do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity.