Planning Specialist – Sustainable Places

Planning Specialist – Sustainable Places

£43,198 + £4,406 p.a. Inner London Weighting Allowance where applicable

York, Rotherham, Leeds, Beverley, Warrington, Wallingford, London SW1 (Marsham Street)

Permanent, Full-Time

Staff Grade 5

Are you passionate about contributing to a more sustainable environment? This is your chance to make a meaningful impact.

We’re seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to work as part of a team that engages with and influences local planning authorities, planning decision makers and developers to secure the best possible environmental outcomes.

As a Planning Specialist, you will be an expert advisor on planning issues, taking and creating opportunities to achieve sustainable economic prosperity that protects and enhances our environment. In this key role, you’ll guide how growth and regeneration happen - ensuring developments safeguard communities, promote biodiversity, and protect our environment.

• Providing technical leadership, expertise and guidance, primarily to Sustainable Places, but also other internal consultees involved in the planning process, ensuring the best environmental outcomes are achieved on development proposals and planning appeals.
• Working with a high degree of collaboration, using effective written and spoken communication skills to influence customers, build strong relationships and networks internally and externally.
• Leading on the team’s most high-profile work areas.
• Training and coaching others to equip them with the knowledge and skills to resolve local issues, ensuring decisions are made on sound technical grounds and are in line with local and national guidance.
• Supporting the Team Leader in leading and managing the team and issues, taking ownership of improvement actions.

The Environment Agency reflects the communities it serves. We don’t just talk about inclusion - we live it. Every new team member is welcomed and given full support, induction, and the equipment they need to thrive.

Incident response is central to our mission. Everyone who joins us undertakes training and is expected to support incident response, which could attract additional payments. Full training and flexible working arrangements are provided.

• You will have a degree in Town and Country Planning or in a relevant discipline (for example, but not limited to: Geography, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Geoscience, Ecology, Biology).
• You will have significant relevant experience in planning related role for example but not limited to working with the Environment Agency as a Planning Advisor or Planning Specialist or in a consultee team, or working for a developer, local planning authority, or other statutory consultee, for example: NE, MMO, Heritage England, Highways England.
• Ability to deal with and advise on development issues and / or on complex environmental problems.
• Working with and influencing organisations and individuals to deliver environmental benefits.
• Problem solving with the ability to work on complex issues and opportunities.
• Confidence in communicating strategic and technical issues to a range of audiences.
• Ability to provide pre-application and strategic advice, including the associated recovery of costs for this work.
• Team-working skills and experience in working flexibly responding to changing demands in a high workload, high pressure environment.

• Experience managing client-based projects and budgets.
• Reviewing and improving processes and procedures.
• Coaching and mentoring experience.
• Membership or demonstrable progress towards membership of a relevant professional body.

You will be part of the Environment Planning and Engagement team. The team brings together account managers, project managers and subject matter experts covering water, green infrastructure and biodiversity, planning and sustainable development, resource and waste management, and health,transport and air quality. We manage relationships with the Greater London Authority, Transport for Londonand the Port of London Authority. You will work in the Environment Planning Team, providing…