Grade 9 to 10, £40,156 - £49,250 (including local weighting) plus an additional £3,500 Market Supplement* 

Full Time, 37 hours per week, permanent. Part-time applications also welcomed. Blended working available, Hertford. Closing date 4 June 2023 at 23:59pm.

We are looking for a Principal Planning Policy Officer to play a leading role in our progressive and forward-thinking Planning Policy Team. The Policy Team at East Herts is at the heart of the Planning Service’s ambition and has a track-record of taking-on complex projects, delivering policy solutions and exploring opportunities for future growth.

Joining the Policy Team now presents a fantastic opportunity for you to be involved in the early stages of the Local Plan review. The Policy Team will be looking to retain the high-quality environment of East Herts, its distinctive character and its economic prosperity by ensuring we provide the best possible planning framework for the district. East Herts benefits from a diverse landscape and there are a range of challenges and issues facing the district at the current time. High levels of growth such as the 10,000 dwelling Gilston development, part of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town, need to be balanced with the ongoing conservation of our beautiful market towns, natural environment and built heritage features. You’ll help to steer the planning direction we take, impacting the built landscape of the East Herts area and ensuring a consistent approach that utilises best practice. In turn, this will support your professional development and enhance your portfolio, enabling your future as well as ours.

We are looking for an exceptional candidate to make a positive contribution to the team at a key moment for the Policy Team and wider-Planning Service. You will have the enthusiasm, expertise, vision and commitment to driving excellence and contributing to the culture and progressive planning service at East Herts. You will have a relevant post-graduate qualification, eligibility for membership of a relevant professional body, and ideally experience of working in a similar role in a local planning authority or in the private sector.

If you are a planner looking for the next stage of your career and want to contribute to a successful team, then we want to hear from you.   

*In line with their pay policy, EHC will review the application of the Market Supplement annually, and if warranted, will make adjustments in liaison with affected staff. 

 

As a Principal Planning Policy Officer, you will lead on the delivery of an efficient and effective planning policy service. You will work as part of the planning policy team on the preparation and implementation of planning policy documents for East Hertfordshire. Specifically, you will take the lead on a number of projects, formulating and collecting technical evidence that supports the District Plan and other policies and documents. You will ensure that the services delivered meet customer needs and, where possible, improve the planning proposition where opportunities to do so arise. The overall aim of your team will be to maintain the quality of life of residents, ensure our district remains a pleasant and attractive place to live and to develop a planning framework to support new developments and infrastructure.

-Leading and managing the preparation and implementation of planning policy documents and associated evidence base, presenting to committee and ensuring that the Council’s plan-making function facilitates the delivery of much needed quality development in the district. 

-Leading on the negotiation and delivery of significant mixed use development schemes across the district, including public consultation, the identification of relevant issues, problem solving, procuring expert advice, and ensuring appropriate infrastructure. 

-The preparation and presentation of the Council’s case at planning appeals; including at hearings and public inquiries, acting as the Council’s expert witness on planning policy issues. 

To be considered as the Principal Planning Policy Officer, you will need: 

-To demonstrate a full knowledge of planning policy and strategy.

-To demonstrate an understanding of the legislative and policy framework at national and local level.

-Experience of leading on the preparation of Development Plan Documents, Supplementary Planning Documents, Neighbourhood Plan Documents, and other policy related guidance and evidence.

-Experience of dealing with major development sites, and a clear understanding of the role of masterplanning in delivering high quality places.

-Experience of dealing with complex planning issues, reaching sound decisions and articulating planning issues in public including at committees and public meetings including Examinations in Public, hearings and public inquiries.

-Experience of working with communities and other stakeholders to shape and prepare policy and guidance.

-Experience of working collaboratively and in partnership arrangements to achieve excellent planning policy outcomes.

-Excellent IT and computing skills, including use of databases.

-Graduate degree in Geography, Town Planning, or other demonstrably relevant degree. 

-A relevant post-graduate qualification in Town Planning or similar.

-Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (or equivalent) or eligibility for chartered membership.

-A full, valid driving licence.

Webrecruit and East Herts Council are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be. 

So, if you’re ready to take the next step in your career as a Principal Planning Policy Officer, please apply via the button shown. 

This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.