Team: Strategic Plan Partnerships / Planning Policy, Strategic Growth 
Job Family: Enabling, CBG12/CBG13 
Salary:  Senior - CGB12 - £38,112 to £42,980 and Principal  - CBG13 £42,789 to £46,542 per annum (plus MRS £3000 per annum) 
Hours: 37 hours per week 
Current Base Location: Priory House, Shefford & Home Working 
Contract Type: Permanent & Temporary Maternity Cover for Principal Planning Officer – up to 13 months 
Closing Date:  25th July 2021 
Interview Date:  Successful candidates will be contacted upon application to arrange an interview date. 

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Planning Officer and a Principal Planning Officer to join us within our Strategic Growth Team.  We also have a Maternity Leave cover opportunity for a Principal Officer to join us for up to 13 months.  

This is a really exciting time for you to join Central Bedfordshire Council. As one of the largest Unitary Authorities in the country, our unique geographical location means we are at the forefront of national conversations around growth. The government has identified the Oxford to Cambridge Arc as a priority area for development and economic investment, with ambitions to deliver substantial growth, which alongside significant investment in key infrastructure schemes such as East-West Rail, has the potential to act as a catalyst for future growth in Central Bedfordshire. 

Working within the Strategic Growth team, you will be involved in a variety of workstreams. You will be responsible for helping to deliver the Council's statutory and non-statutory functions including the creation of evidence-based policies and guidance.  You will be involved in strategic as well as local planning projects from conception to conclusion including supporting the commissioning and preparation of evidence for the Council to support the local and government Growth Agenda as well as providing support and leading on projects related to the Local Plan review. 

The emerging Local Plan provides a strong basis for delivering much needed homes and jobs, as well as protecting our green and historic assets. However, our commitment to an early review of this plan will provide us with the ideal opportunity to consider and embed the impacts of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc and the implications of the forthcoming Spatial Framework more broadly and to ensure Central Bedfordshire takes full advantage of this opportunity to benefit from this ambition, working in partnership with the Government to bring forward higher levels of growth and enhancing our economy.  

Would you like to take the lead on local projects and use your knowledge and skills to make a difference? 

Join our team and play a pivotal role in the next Local Plan for Central Bedfordshire.   At both a Principal and Senior level, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders and support, the Strategic Growth Management Teams, taking the lead on projects as well as providing guidance to Planning & Career Grade Officers.  You will lead on topic areas, undertaking local studies as well as commissioning and managing consultants undertaking technical studies.  Working across the full range of Planning disciplines with everyone from Councillor’s to developers looking to you for specialist support and guidance, it’s vital that you understand and uphold best practice and have good political and commercial awareness. 

You will also contribute to strategic projects arising from our prime location within the Oxford to Cambridge Arc, including the Councils response and input into the Arc Spatial Framework and will contribute towards our strategic partnerships to inform the development of future growth across Central Bedfordshire, the wider growth corridor, SEMLEP, national strategies and policies, as well as other Council Strategies and Delivery Plans. Your ability to communicate effectively, work under pressure, prioritise and manage workloads to meet identified deadlines all to a high standard, is therefore essential.  

It is important that you have a degree (or equivalent qualification or experience) in Town Planning and/or be a member of the Royal Town Planning institute, and have policy planning experience working in a forward planning environment. Experience in Design and/or with GIS systems, or a willingness to learn new skills in these areas would be advantageous, but is not essential.   

What we can offer you  

By joining the Central Bedfordshire Council family, you will have access to numerous benefits, including membership of the competitive Local Government Pension Scheme from day one, full IT equipment to enable agile working including a laptop, smartphone and additional screens if required, access to our Employee Assistance Programme and a relocation package (subject to eligibility), and many other staff discounts.   

As a recognised RTPI Learning Partner, which demonstrates our commitment to the training and development of our staff; and a Finalist in the RTPI East of England Awards for Planning Excellence 2020, you will have access to learning and continuous professional development opportunities through regular attendance at relevant and up to date internal and external courses and workshops.   

A full overview of benefits on offer is included in the Recruitment Pack.    
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Would you like to chat about the role? Contact Lynsey Hillman-Gamble, Strategic Plan Partnership Manager, on 0300 300 5247 or email lynsey.hillman-gamble@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

Due to the expected number of applications this advert may close before the date shown.

Central Bedfordshire Council has its own vision and values that are integral to everything we do. Our area vision is to make Central Bedfordshire 'A great place to live and work’. 

Central Bedfordshire Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome enquiries from everyone and value diversity in the workplace. We are a Disability Confident employer, we are working to become a Disability Confident leader in our community.

LINK

https://career2.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=10077&company=centralbed