Job Summary
- We are seeking to appoint an Policy Planning Officer, within our fast-paced Policy Planning Team in one of London’s key growth areas.
- This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, forward-thinking Policy Team with a ‘best nationally’ level of performance. At all levels, you will need to be able to demonstrate a keen interest in town planning, outstanding organisation, be solutions-led and have excellent customer service skills.
- The role will cover all aspects of policy planning, SPD and masterplanning, sustainability and infrastructure development plans.
- Be First is a pioneering urban regeneration company wholly owned by, but operating independently of, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD).
- Its mission is to accelerate growth and capitalise on the borough’s position as London’s hottest investment and development opportunity. We are a developer and property consultancy and provide planning and other statutory functions for LBBD. We also work with commercial partners who share our core values of delivering high quality development which benefits local people.
Job Salary
£40,000 - £50,000 (Grade 6) + benefits and 30 days annual leave entitlementClosing Date
January 31, 2025Job Description
Key Tasks and Accountabilities:
Key tasks and accountabilities are intended to be a guide to the range and level of work expected of the post holder. This is not an exhaustive list of all tasks that may fall to the post holder and employees will be expected to carry out such other reasonable duties which may be required from time to time by the Head of Policy, Transport and Infrastructure Planning.
– To contribute towards the implementation of a working culture that is result-orientated, customer-focused and an ethos of ‘right first time’ service delivery.
– To undertake all duties with minimal supervision.
– To be responsible for continuous personal development by requesting and attending training when necessary.
– To demonstrate a strong commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities.
– To take a lead in providing high quality planning services to external and internal customers and stakeholders, meeting evolving delivery priorities, issues and challenges to agreed standards defined in the service offer.
Policy Planner Specific Duties
– To make high quality planning assessments drawn from a spatial policy basis having regard to the Local Plan, Regional Plans and the NPPF.
– Reviewing evidence base documents for Local Plan. Writing and reviewing policies
– Continue to develop the Borough’s infrastructure delivery plan, including developing strategies for Waste, Flood prevention, utility planning and managing the Duty to Cooperate Process with key stakeholders.
– Commissioning and managing Local Plan Viability Work
– Preparing Housing Delivery Reports
– Drafting Planning Obligations including SPD’s
– Sustainability Appraisals of development sites
– Commenting on planning applications with respect to biodiversity and green infrastructure
– Flood risk assessments
– Waste and Joint Waste Plan
– Supporting planning’s involvement maintaining and utilising the CIL and S106 process
– Responding to consultee comments (internal and external)
– Commissoning tenders and managing consultants
– Supporting Graduate Planners
Generic Duties and transferable skills across the department
– To support all types of Development Management projects or Spatial Planning tasks as necessary including pre-application, application and appeal work.
– To prepare and present written or oral reports and briefings to the Lead Member, Cabinet, Planning Committees, Members’ Forum and other bodies, and to attend and lead meetings with Members as necessary, and to support the preparation and management of agendas
– To manage personal workload, dealing with a variety of schemes or Spatial Planning tasks across the Borough, as well as the daily allocation and supervision of work to junior staff and support for senior staff and the best allocation of resources
– To liaise with a wide range of public and private bodies in order to provide the planning input to projects securing the redevelopment or improvement of land in the Borough.
– To provide technical and procedural advice and problem-solving to the public on site, in meetings, by phone or correspondence in circumstances that can be confrontational and would require an immediate response.
Person Specification
Essential experience
- A recognised degree in Town Planning and sufficient post qualification experience to qualify for membership of RTPI or a related degree and ability to gain entry to course leading to a professional qualification.
- A comprehensive knowledge of the practical application of the legislation and standards relating to the Planning Act
- A knowledge of how to supervise a Development Management or Spatial Planning team and to devise innovative solutions for service delivery.
- A knowledge of how to assess the impact of legislative or administrative changes affecting the service and to proactively implement changes to comply with those requirements.
- The ability to undertake complex Development Management projects or Spatial Planning work and in a high-pressure environment.
- Demonstratable successful innovation, initiative and consistent achievement in a planning environment
- The ability to manage, lead and motivate staff and foster their professional development
- IT literate with experience of using Word, PowerPoint and other software packages to record and manage data.
- Able to listen and respond sensitively to the needs of the community and to deliver the service around the needs of customers.
- To build effective and productive working relationships with colleagues and elected members.
- A proven record or experience of communicating in person, by telephone and in writing in a calm, courteous and confident professional manner.
- Demonstrable understanding of the equality and diversity agenda, and experience of embedding a fair and ethical approach within a team and wider organisation
Essential skills
- Able to work successfully in teams
- Creative and innovative in solving complex problems
- Able to think and work proactively, “self-start” and work autonomously with the minimum of direct supervision
- Scrupulous attention to detail, particularly with regard to technical aspects of operational processes and practices, accuracy of records and reports, efficiency and accuracy around schedule and diary management
- At ease in the presence of company directors, senior client representatives and able to command a sense of personal professional gravitas without being overbearing
- Have a corporate approach to managing her/his areas of responsibility, seeing the bigger picture, supporting fellow executives and board members in meeting their objectives
- Able to work under pressure, organise and prioritise own work and that of others, ensuring agreed programmes and project requirements are met and customer demands accommodated
- Strong influencing and persuasion skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong reporting writing and communications skills, abilities to flex communication style and approach to meet the needs of a diverse range of stakeholder groups
- Ability to prioritise under pressure
