About the team we are recruiting to

Planning Policy and Environment is a service area within Coventry City Council which supports the growth of the city.

The vision and commitment of the Planning Policy and Environment team ensures there is a robust platform to guide the delivery of sustainable development making provision for local people through the delivery of housing, jobs, retail and community uses whilst creating high quality urban and natural environments.

The service area sits within a larger team alongside Development Management, Building Control and Regulatory Services and encompasses a number of individual but related specialisms all focussed on delivering a city for those wishing to live and work here.   Those specialisms include Planning, Ecology, Trees and Landscape, Urban Design, Conservation, Archaeology and Environmental Protection.

What is the job role?

We are looking to recruit a Principal Town Planner to lead the work of the Planning Policy team. You will be responsible for undertaking and initiating specific projects and research, provide policy and strategy support to the Planning team, as well as providing guidance and direction of the Planning Policy team.

The main duties and responsibilities of the role include (but are not limited to):

• Leading on the preparation, implementation and review of spatial planning documents
• Responsible for the collection and presentation of national and local performance indicators, statistics and other information for planning. 
• To undertake the necessary professional duties associated with representing the City Council in respect of formal proceedings such as Public Inquiries, Hearings, Examinations or Written Representation Appeals, including giving evidence as an expert witness as required

Who are we looking for?

To apply for this role, you must have a degree or post graduate diploma in Town Planning, you must also be a member of RTPI or have a membership of a relevant professional body.

As the Principal Town Planner in the Policy team you will be managing employees, projects and resources and therefore management skills training and experience is key. To be a successful applicant you will also have experience of working in a relevant planning policy environment and a political environment with an awareness and appreciation of the non-technical issues that influence decision making.

You will have knowledge around local, regional and national planning policy trends and issues, as well as the ability to interpret national policy, legislation and guidance and translate into local implementation and appropriate local responses. You will be comfortable commissioning, collecting and interpreting data in order to deliver sound policy advice and documents.

Introduction to Coventry City Council

Coventry is a lively, multicultural city, which embraces old and new. Around the modern city centre there are traces of history everywhere – in the old city walls, the timber-framed buildings and the reconstructed medieval Spon Street. But Coventry has always had an eye on the future, and is now firmly focused on regenerating and re-inventing itself to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. With major developments and new projects taking place right across the city, Coventry City Council is the place to be!

There's a huge buzz about the city – Coventry ranks as the 8th best city to live, work and do business in the UK, and is the UK City of Culture 2021! We believe this will help put Coventry on the map for all the right reasons. You can feel the sense of local pride throughout the city as we build towards this momentous year. It also offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those joining us to play their part in it.

We genuinely believe that Coventry City Council is a special place. You will be joining Coventry City Council during an exciting time to become part of a team that contribute to achieving our visions for the city. We have made our council a place where we look after our people, making sure you're happy in your work and given everything you need to succeed. We've created friendly, welcoming workplaces where everyone is working towards the same cause, providing the best possible services for the city of Coventry.

As a council with improvement at its heart, we’re committed to making life better for the people who live and work in Coventry. We’re equally concerned with the quality of life enjoyed by our people, so by joining us, you won’t just be helping the community, you’ll be helping yourself too.

Not only do you get to work alongside great people that are helping to improve services for our community we offer great benefits too! For your valued contribution we will provide a fantastic benefits package including:

• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave allowance starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days
• Pay progression through multiple increments
• Outstanding local government pension scheme
• Learning & Development with access to certified courses.
• Access to an award-winning Occupational Health Team
• Vibrant employee networks

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please click on the apply button to visit our website.

Closing date: 1 November 2020.

Interview date: 12 November 2020.

Coventry City Council is committed to delivering the best possible services and improving the quality of life for Coventry people. In order to do this effectively we aim to have a workforce that represents the diverse communities we serve, embracing and utilising the broad range of skills, experiences and perspectives this brings.

We are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for all. This includes making adjustments or changes for people who have a disability or long-term health condition.