Overview

With construction work well underway, the impact of High-Speed Two has already been felt by our local communities and businesses across the county. We are now looking to expand our exceptional in-house team, which deals with planning and environmental issues that arise from HS2.

As a Principal Planner, you'll be responsible for a full range of development control matters on the project, whilst also attending meetings focussed on HS2 casework within the community. Working collaboratively with our Planning Team, you'll process HS2 applications and pre-application submissions.

About the role

Major Projects is a new service at Buckinghamshire Council covering all national infrastructure projects which take place across the county, including HS2 and Development Constant Orders such as Heathrow and Western Rail Link to Heathrow, and Luton Airport. As a single point of contact for these schemes, we coordinate the Council's response and input throughout each project.

Supporting our wider team, The Principal Planner will manage a complex caseload of planning work related to HS2. You'll work collaboratively, as you provide key input into the processes that will determine applications, from the design of infrastructure to liaising with the community and Council Members.

Head of Major Projects, Laura, said, 'this is a great opportunity to be part of one of the biggest infrastructure projects of our time. We really value career development here at Bucks, and this role offers great exposure to a wide range of key stakeholders. It's an exciting time to join BC, and your work will have a real impact on Buckinghamshire for generations to come.'

About you

Naturally, you'll come to us with extensive knowledge of planning legislation and national policies. Working in a team of highly skilled professionals, you'll be a confident leader, with a positive 'can-do' attitude. Most importantly, you'll have excellent interpersonal skills and strong political awareness, as you work at pace to resolve complex planning enquires. Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading on Schedule 17 pre-applications negotiations to secure the best mitigation following the Environment Statement and the Environment Minimum Requirements;
• Dealing with the most complex requests for pre-application advice and applications, and securing fundamental changes to pre-application schemes to secure good design and the best mitigation;
• Supervising and managing the determination of the Schedule 17 submissions for approval by the promoter following the High-Speed legislative documents produced by the promoter and related processes;
• Guiding, supporting, and overseeing some of the work undertaken by other members of the team;
• Attending at HS2 Members Panels, Community Forums, Cabinets and Council meetings when requested and participating at both informal and formal meetings.

Please see the full job summary on our careers page.

Other information

Our response as an employer to Covid-19 has shaped the way we want to work in the future. Microsoft Teams, Skype and vlogs from our Senior Leadership Team have all played their part in allowing us to become even more flexible in how, when and where our teams work. There will be times where you'll need to be in the office, whether that's for meeting clients or collaborating with peers; but we actively encourage our colleagues to adopt a flexible working approach and take control of their own work-life balance.

The role will be closed at midnight on the 31st of October 2021.

For an informal chat about this role in more detail, please contact Laura Leech at laura.leech@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme and the opportunity to gain membership to Costco. We have discounted gym memberships, Travel discounts with Arriva and Chiltern Railways and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/