Senior Planning Officer (Development Management)

Salary:                       £42,428 - £49,118 (Band E)

Location:                  Grantown on Spey

Job Type:                  Permanent Contract

Hours:                       Full time, 36 hours per week (but part time hours of 30/week may be considered)

Closing Date:          23:59pm,Sunday 18 February 2024

Interview Date:       Wednesday 6 March 2024

Equalities:

CNPA is an inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, relationship status, disability, age and social class.  We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, as they are under-represented in the environment sector.

We are Disability Confident committed employer, if you are an applicant with disabilities who meets the essential requirements of the post, we will interview you.  In all circumstances CNPA appoints on merit-based evidence the applicant supplies in meeting the essential criteria for the post.

About Us:

The Cairngorms National Park (CNP) is the largest national park in the UK, covering 4500km².  It is also a place of sheer abundance, having more high mountain ground than anywhere else in the UK, the largest Caledonian forest, some of Scotland’s purest rivers and finest livestock rearing farmland.  It is home to 25 percent of the UK’s rare and endangered species.  It is a truly unique place to work, with our dedicated and passionate Planning team who are committed to delivering a high quality planning service, every day. Furthermore, there is access to some of the most beautiful countryside straight from our Headquarters office door.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) was recognised as one of Scotland's top 10 flexible employers and listed in the UK’s Top 100 best not for profit companies to work for; we’re dedicated to both this fantastic landscape and our employees.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Planning Officer (Development Management) to join the CNPA and contribute, as part of a small team, to an efficient and effective Planning Service by undertaking planning casework, training and support for junior staff and delivering and improving the technical and administrative processes associated with the planning service.

The Role:

As the Senior Planning Officer (Development Management) you will take responsibility for processing planning casework and providing planning advice on potential developments in the National Park while undertaking work across the functions of the planning service including Development Management, monitoring and enforcement and development planning. 

You will lead the “grow your own” graduate planner programme and may be required to line-manage planning staff.  You will be line-managed by the Planning Manager (Development Management).

In the role you will manage your portfolio of caseload to deliver decisions within the Park Authority’s service standards while time managing your wider range of contributions to the team’s and wider services work.

So, if you are keen to be our Senior Planning Officer (Development Management) and you can display the skills and experience listed here, this is the role you’ve been waiting for. 

CNPA Benefits:

• Civil service pension scheme – some of the benefits include:

• member contribution rates among the lowest in the public sector
• tax relief on your contributions generous employer contributions
• a secure, inflation-proof pension for life, with no investment uncertainty
• the option of tax-free lump sum on retirement potential
• access to ill health and injury benefits if you become too ill to work life assurance cover benefits for loved ones and dependants
• options to increase your pension
• keeping all your pensions in one place by transferring in a pension you have built up elsewhere support from our trusted charity partners

• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus Public Holidays
• Professional development
• Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Use of pool cars

About You:

To be considered as our Senior Planning Officer (Development Management), you’ll need:

• A recognised degree or equivalent in Town Planning or a closely related subject area.
• A full member of the Royal Town Planning Institute;
• Considerable experience of Development Management in the context of a planning authority, ideally in the Scottish planning system, including the processing and project management of major or controversial planning applications, planning appeals and working with Planning Committees.
• Up to date knowledge, understanding and experience of planning legislation, regulations, policies and current practice in relation to the Scottish planning system and the roles of partner agencies and other stakeholders within it.
• Demonstrable ability to make sound judgements on the handling of controversial and sensitive issues.
• Excellent communication skills – experience of and ability to write concise and accurate planning reports in plain English; to reinforce them through clear oral and visual presentations to Planning Committee; and to be able to answer complex and technical questions in relation to planning casework during a Planning Committee meeting.
• Excellent time and workload management skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Understanding of living and working in rural areas and the relationship between land use planning and wider rural issues.
• IT skills – word processing, spread sheets, databases, and presentation software.
• Experience of using E-planning systems, IDOX Uni-Form and Document Management Systems (or equivalent system) to process planning casework.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision and work effectively and efficiently within the context of a small team.
• Spatial awareness skills and ability to accurately interpret drawings and maps
• Full UK driving licence or access to driver if disability prevents driving.
• Permission to work in the UK

Experience of Development Management in the context of a planning authority, ideally in the Scottish planning system, including the processing and project management of complex planning applications, planning appeals and presenting to Planning Committees; A secondary qualification relevant to the post, e.g. surveying; architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, ecology or economics; Experience of managing staff; Experience of the planning system from the private or NGO sector would be beneficial to your application.

How to apply:

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button

Please note, we do not accept Curriculum Vitae (CV).

If you require more information, or if you require any adjustments to be made to the application process due to disability please contact us on 01479 873535 or email: recruitment@cairngorms.co.uk

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