Job description
Post title: Career Grade Planner – Planning Policy Officer
Service area: Planning Policy and Development Viability Service
Grade: SO1 - PO4
Reports to: Team Leader or Head of Service
Your team: Planning Policy Team
Number of supervisees: The management of lower graded staff may be required at grade PO4.
Our ambition
We're determined to make Islington more equal. To create a place where everyone, whatever their background, has the opportunity to reach their potential and enjoy a good quality of life.
We also have an ambitious goal – to be the best council in the country – with every employee clear about the part they play and inspired, focused and supported to give their very best.
We want to build an organisation where employees feel valued, inspired and empowered to help us achieve our goals and provide the best services possible to our residents.
Our values and behaviours
‘Be Islington’ is about setting a clear challenge about what it means to be an Islington employee and sets the standard for every new recruit.
We ask our employees to ‘Be Islington’ – playing their part in working together for a more equal borough and to always be collaborative, be ambitious, be resourceful, and be empowering (‘CARE’).
Our commitment to challenging inequality
We are committed to tackling inequality, racism and injustice and creating a fairer borough for all. In order to do this, we need to set the example by being a fair employer and creating a workplace environment, which is free from discrimination, racism and inequality. Our approach needs to be proactive, consistently learning to create a fairer workplace and foster a culture, which empowers all staff to challenge inequality.
•Equality is at the heart of what we do. We want to celebrate and embrace our differences by:
•Ensuring our workforce is representative of the people we work on behalf of, our residents
•Creating equitable working environments and diverse teams
•Understanding our residents in order to design and deliver services that help tackle inequality and improve life chances for our residents
•Getting to know people and their differences
•Interpreting issues and concerns from a cultural perspective and address situations or problems from the points-of-view of multiple cultures
Primary Job Function
To provide a specialist professional service in one or more of the core areas of work within the Service including:
•economic development;
•spatial planning;
•development planning;
•transport planning;
•physical regeneration;
•project management; and/or
•urban design.
Key responsibilities
1.To be qualified or to be working towards a relevant qualification in one or more of the core areas of work within the service.
2.Possess the necessary knowledge and experience to undertake the duties assigned to the post.
3.To keep abreast of the relevant legislation, policy, decision making frameworks, and other professional parameters relating to the assigned role within the Service.
4.Develop an awareness and understanding of other specialist disciplines within the Service where necessary to undertake the role.
5.To produce high quality reports and written advice.
6.To engage actively with all members of the local community, voluntary sector, business and specialist groups using appropriate techniques.
7.To represent the Service at meetings with external stakeholders and partners.
8.To represent the Service at meetings with the public on matters relevant to the Service.
9.To liaise with other teams or services within the council to ensure that the Service’s interests are protected and promoted.
10.To deal with complex and difficult telephone enquiries on matters with political or public relations implications, and to comply with the Council’s Telephone Code of Practice.
11.To deal with correspondence, enquiries and complaints efficiently and effectively, within response times specified by the Council and the Director.
12.To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as approved by the Team Manager.
13.To be committed to the Council’s core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way they carry out their duties.
14.Ensure all the services within the area(s) of responsibility are provided in accordance with the Council's commitment to high quality service provision to users.
15.At all times carrying out responsibilities/duties in accordance with the relevant legislation, Codes of Practice and Council Policies and Procedures.
16.Work within changing deadlines.
17.Carry out occasional duties outside normal office hours as required.
18.Participate in the development of the Team as required.
19.To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post.
Additional
To use and assist others in the use of information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed by the line manager.
To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder.
The post holder is expected to be committed to the Council’s core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way they carry out their duties.
Ensure all the services within the area(s) of responsibility are provided in accordance with the Council's commitment to high quality service provision to users.
Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and other legislation.
Carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety legislation.
At all times carrying out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council's Dignity for all Policy (Equal Opportunities Policy).
To seek and maintain membership of a relevant professional institute where this is necessary to the performance of the assigned role.
Leadership
As a member of the council’s management team, to contribute proactively to the collective leadership for the council, working collaboratively with Members, services across the council, partners and stakeholders to deliver the council’s objectives and priorities.
To drive positive cultural change, embodying and promoting the values and behaviours of the council and empowering staff to reach their full potential. Ensure that the performance and development framework is effective for all staff.
To lead on and ensure the effective implementation of corporate initiatives and transformation programmes that cut across the whole or part of the council’s activities.
Resources and Financial management
Ensure effective Financial Management, cost controls and income maximisation in an ever changing environment, fluctuating demands and priorities. Ensure resources are well managed and effectively deployed to the best possible effects assuring value for money in all activities.
Compliance
Ensure legal, regulatory and policy compliance under GDPR, Health and Safety and in area of your specialism identifying opportunities and risks and escalating where appropriate.
Work style
Flexible/Office-Based
Person specification
You should demonstrate on your application form how you meet the essential criteria. Please ensure that you address each of the criteria as this will be assessed to determine your suitability for the post.
