The role
We are looking for an experienced, senior planning policy officer to play a key role bringing forward the review and update of our Local Plan. You will experience a variety of projects across a range of planning themes and topics within a friendly, multidisciplinary team that works closely across the whole planning service and with wider Council teams.
The successful candidate will cooperate with Councillors, partners and residents to help create and deliver an ambitious, sustainable and low-carbon vision for future growth and development in North Hertfordshire. This will balance our future needs with the preservation and enhancement of the District’s distinct identity and characteristics that include National Landscapes, historic villages, market towns and the world’s first Garden City.
The experience you will bring
You will have significant post-qualification experience in a professional planning environment with full membership (or eligibility for full membership) of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Your experience may have been gained in the public sector, private practice or a combination of the two. You are creative and enthusiastic about making a positive difference for the residents of North Hertfordshire.
You will have worked across a wide range of relevant projects, both working independently under your own initiative and as part of wider teams and strategies. You have demonstrable experience of developing robust, evidence-based policies and advising on their purpose and implementation to professional colleagues, prospective applicants and members of the public.
The ideal candidate will have previous experience at Local Plan examinations or planning appeals as well as working on neighbourhood plans or supplementary planning documents. You may have developed a truly detailed understanding of certain areas of policy such as housing or town centres where we can focus your expertise (or, equally, assist you in broadening your experience to other areas).
You will be proficient in the use of specialist IT platforms such as GIS, public engagement and / or planning application software.
About us
North Hertfordshire is a large rural district with approximately 125,000 residents with four historic towns, Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and Letchworth Garden City. The Council has a clear vision: We put people first and deliver sustainable services, to enable a brighter future together.
Why work with us?
We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in our recruitment practices and in our employment policies. We want our employees to feel safe to express themselves and we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of talents. We are dedicated to promoting a healthy work/life balance, valuing our employees, and enabling them to make a difference to the local community.
Please note that all our vacancies require you to live and work in the UK, and selection interviews are face to face in our Letchworth offices or other nearby council sites.
At North Herts Council we are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, and we guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum requirements for the job.
If you would like an informal chat about the post, you can contact Debbie Coates, Principal Strategic Planning Officer on 01462 474353 or Nigel Smith, Strategic Planning Manager on 01462 474847.
Please note, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.