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, Wednesday 21 February 2024
Interview Date: Wednesday 13 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 (Forward Planning) to join the CNPA and contribute, as part of a small team, to an efficient and effective Planning Service by, contributing to the preparation and implementation of an effective Local Development Plan and National Park Partnership Plan, providing training and support for junior staff and delivering and improving the technical and administrative processes associated with the planning service.
The Role:
Under the line-management of the Planning Manager (Forward Planning and Service Improvement), the senior planning officer role will help to deliver the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Planning Service and an ongoing programme of work to prepare, implement, monitor and review the Local Development Plan and the National Park Partnership Plan.
The postholder will manage their portfolio of policy and research responsibilities to deliver the Park Authority’s strategic priorities while time managing their wider range of contributions to the team’s and wider services work. The role may also be required to line manage planning staff.
So, if you are keen to be our Senior Planning Officer (Forward Planning) 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 (Forward Planning), 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 planning in the context of a planning authority, ideally in the Scottish planning system, including the project management of complex policy and research projects and presenting to Planning Committees.
• Considerable experience and knowledge of key policy areas, including housing and planning obligations.
• 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.
• Experience of public participation exercises and working with developers, communities and other stakeholders;
• 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.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision and work effectively and efficiently within the context of a small team.
• Ability to accurately interpret and analyse maps and data using geographical information systems e.g. ArcGIS Pro, QGIS;
• Full UK driving licence or access to driver if disability prevents driving.
• Permission to work in the UK.
Experience of development planning in the context of a planning authority, ideally in the Scottish planning system, including the project management of complex policy and research projects 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; Experience of using E-planning systems, IDOX Uni-Form, Document Management Systems (or equivalent system) and online development plans; Ability to use design based software, e.g. Adobe Creative suit; Ability to see positive role that planning can play in delivering high quality development and improving the quality of life for communities in, and visitors to, the National Park would be beneficial to your application.
How to apply:
To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ 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:
[email protected]
To see how the CNPA collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants, please view the Privacy Notice available on our website.
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