Sustainable Places Planning Advisor - 7214

1
East of England
Ipswich
Iceni House
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Full Time
Commercial, Environment & Sustainability, Planning
£27,138
We are looking for a highly motivated, confident and enthusiastic person to join a team that engages with a range of customers to promote sustainable growth and secure environmental outcomes through land-use and marine planning systems.

The team is in an exciting period of change which includes the expansion of our paid-for strategic planning advice and early engagement services. Influencing these stages of the planning process delivers the biggest outcomes for the environment and enables us to recover the costs of providing our advice.

The successful candidate will therefore need the ability to develop strong relationships and have excellent communication and customer service skills to secure customer engagement where we can add the most value to proposals. This will need to be complemented by an awareness of the Governments growth agenda; Local Plans and how the development industry in general operates, as well as an understanding of relevant planning systems and Environment Agency objectives.

You will also be required to work with local and national colleagues developing and implementing continuous improvements in our service, seeking more efficient and effective ways to influence outcomes and recover our costs.
You will need to meet strict deadlines and targets under challenging work pressures.
You will join a positive, hardworking team that takes pride in achieving positive outcomes for the environment across East Anglia. This includes flood risk reduction, land remediation and river corridor enhancement.
We work closely with a number of internal teams, including specialist advisors and national office colleagues, to provide this service.
Externally we engage with a range of customers and partners, including local authorities, water companies, developers and Defra partners.
You will be qualified to at least degree standard (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Expected skills and experience include:

• Political and commercial awareness of the growth agenda and development industry.
• Experience or an understanding of relevant planning systems and key environmental issues.
• Ability to think strategically and consider the bigger picture.
• A positive and enthusiastic attitude, with a drive to seek new innovative ways of working.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills and the ability to positively respond to changing and challenging priorities within set timescales.
• Self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong customer service, communication and relationship building skills – both written and verbal.
• Establishing and maintaining a wide network which benefits the business through confident negotiation and influencing.
• Ability to make sound decisions based on competing or complex factors.
Closing Date: 2nd January 2018 at 23:55 hours

You will be based in our Ipswich office but will sometimes be required to travel across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex for meetings. A full driving licence is therefore desirable.

We as an Agency take part in incident response. If successful your line manager will discuss arrangements with you depending on your role and circumstances.

The information in the candidate pack is taken from a generic role profile so, whilst relevant, it is not specifically tailored to this position. The advert provides you with details of key accountabilities and skills needed to succeed in this role.

If you have any questions please contact the hiring manager: tim.gornall@environment-agency.gov.uk or on 0203 02 58507.

Interviews w/c 29 January 2018.

02/01/2018, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Describe a time when you have had to address the needs of both internal and external customers.
Please note, your answer will be used for interview selection.
Influences and Persuades Others
Describe a time when you have had to present a convincing argument to win people over.
Please note, your answer will be used for interview selection
Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Describe a time when you have identified an opportunity to create, introduce or implement a new way of working.
Please note, your answer will be used for interview selection.
Managing the Agency’s Interaction in the Land Use Planning Process
How would you describe/promote the Environment Agency's Planning Advice Service to a potential customer?
Driving Licence
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.