- Pay Rate:
£21.68 per hour PAYE
- Hours per Week:
35, Monday – Friday, normal working hours
This assignment is for 3 months until further notice
- Islington, London,
N1 2UD
Interim Principal Planning and Development Officer
Reference no: Islington RQ604674
We are looking for passionate, experienced, and enthusiastic planning professionals to join our fast paced, enthusiastic, varied and inherently interesting Planning Service to lead the processing of householder applications, adverts, certificate of lawful etc.
Key responsibilities:
- Assess and negotiate amendments and write up detailed recommendations at delegated and Committee levels on a range of complex minor planning applications
- Write up appeal statements accurately, applying all relevant planning policies and material planning considerations and to explain complex matters verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
- Work closely and collaboratively with Senior Planning Officers within the Planning Applications Team and other consultees
- Look for and find creative solutions, pay attention to detail and take responsibility for delivering high quality work
- Work well under pressure, manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines
- Work productively with stakeholders including residents, councillors, contractors, and other partners.
“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:
Knowledge:
- Completion of a recognised relevant qualification and eligibility for membership of the RTPI.
- Possess exceptional verbal and written communication skills and can explain complex technical matters to service users.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of and demonstrable successful interpretation of current legislation and national, regional, and local planning policy including emerging legislation and policy and working practices relating to planning and development.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of development management systems and processes and the ability to work to specified procedures.
- Knowledge, ability and proven track record of utilising performance management techniques and meeting and exceeding planning related performance targets identified for the service with minimal supervision.
Experience:
- Experience of drafting accurate and concise delegated and committee reports and evidence for planning appeals on the most complex and wide-ranging nature including experience writing up cases of strategic size, complex correspondence and briefing notes, appeal statements and similar documents on Development Management matters where submissions require multi-disciplinary input and exceptional technical skills and knowledge.
- Experience and demonstrable ability of creative problem solving, including quantitative and qualitative analysis, evaluation of alternative solutions and consequences of outcomes.
- Proven active participation in meetings, team meetings, staff briefings, training courses and sharing of knowledge.
- Demonstrable confidence in presenting alternative recommendations to that of specialists if supported by sound material planning considerations, evidence, or policy.
- Experience of assisting in the development and implementation of local planning policy and guidance.
- Experience and demonstrable track record of successful internal and external partnership working including stakeholder management and conflict resolution.
- Extensive experience and proven track record of a high level of competence and of successfully managing high volume, high output, timely, high quality and acceptable outcomes of complex high profile / value and politically sensitive major applications that constitute significant interventions in the built environment with minimal supervision.
- Proven track record of successfully managing complex high value negotiations and interactions with Members, developers, legal experts, planning and design professionals, development related teams of experts, residents, and stakeholders to secure acceptable and significant interventions in the built and socio-economic environment.
Skills/Technical skills:
- Ability to carry out, advise and mentor others the functions related to the processing of applications, including the validation and consultation of applications.
- Ability to demonstrate understanding, commitment, and ability to deliver an excellent customer focused service.
- Ability and commitment to occasionally work outside of normal working hours as and when required.
- Ability to use IT resources to support the functions of the post.
- Ability and experience of successfully presenting and explaining the most complex technical planning issues, including successfully representing the client as lead officer at Planning Committees, Public Inquiries and appeal Hearings and complicated appeal or other relevant legal proceedings.
- Ability to supervise and mentor junior members of staff, and / or other officials / Members imparting exceptional technical knowledge and insight in planning matters for the benefit of colleagues, the service, residents, and the client.
- Ability to negotiate scheme improvements to complex and/or large-scale proposals as the lead officer unsupported by specialist or senior staff.
- Demonstrable influencing and negotiation skills resulting in significant positive interventions in the built environment.
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.
Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.
Other “Essential Requirements” – Please check to ensure that your CV addresses the following items:
- Our clients are generally seeking applicants who are reasonably local, so on that basis we would ideally like you to supply us with your address (or at least your post code) and a telephone number so that we can reach you during working hours.
- Your recent UK working experience going back at least 5 years, or full employment history if you have been working for fewer years than this.
- Your availability to work either immediately, or at short notice.
- Please refer to the Role Requirements section above - your CV must address the requirements listed.
Other preferable/desirable details to include on your CV, if applicable:
- Any local authority/public sector experience
- Any relevant qualifications held or being studied for.
AE
CV Tips
Your CV needs to be current with your most recent role. We won’t be able to submit it with any unexplained gaps in employment. It will save time and improve your chances of success if we can put your CV forward immediately without having to ask for revisions.
Your CV must cover the “Essential Requirements” of the role. Ideally you will address the “Essential Requirements” on each job description page directly, in a bullet point list. Please include any DBS details and other qualifications called for.
Your CV should clearly state that you are available to start work either immediately, or at short notice. In general, our clients are unable to work with notice periods of more than 1 week from the point at which a role is offered, 2 weeks at the very most.
We do not put forward covering letters, so please ensure that your CV in contains all relevant information being called for.
We recommend that you consider sending us a CV suitably tailored CV for each role that you apply for. Job board aggregator sites will generally store only one version of your CV, which can be a bit limiting, so this is to your advantage.