We are looking for accomplished professionals to join the Planning Inspectorate as Planning Inspectors.

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England, whether that is considering an appeal, examining a local plan or providing recommendations to the Secretary of State on major national projects. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.

Job description

Not all Planning Inspectors are town planners. We have always recruited from a range of professional backgrounds, including engineering, architecture, built heritage, environmental sciences, landscape architecture and the law.

You need to be an accomplished professional with relevant skills and a commitment to public service. You need to be self-confident, self motivated and self-reliant, with the ability to make independent decisions, to work alone and to travel widely across England.

You need to be an accomplished professional with energy, relevant skills and a commitment to public service. You need to be self-confident, self motivated and self-reliant, with the ability to make independent decisions, to work alone and to travel widely across England. In return, we can offer an intellectually stimulating and challenging job, working with other independent and innovative experts in a highly regarded, trusted organisation, which embraces and encourages diversity. You will also benefit from the lifestyle flexibility that working from home can bring.

For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached.

Person specification

Essential Criteria
• Full / Chartered Membership of a professional body* relevant to the work of a Planning Inspector;
• Ability to analyse and to recall large amounts of information, evidence and argument; to interpret and to apply policies; and to draw out quickly the main issues requiring your consideration;
• Ability to write clearly, accurately and concisely in order to reach logical, convincing, well-reasoned and evidence-based conclusions;
• Self-motivated and self-reliant such that you can plan, manage and deliver your work with minimal oversight;
• Effective time management skills to enable you to produce high-quality decisions within expected timescales;
• Effective interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact sensitively and empathetically with a diverse range of people;
• Ability to conduct fair and inclusive public events, with authority, involving those holding conflicting views about development proposals;
• A willingness and ability to travel extensively and frequently across England (notably to and within London and the South East) with some nights away from home;

*Please see Candidate Pack for a list of relevant professions / professional bodies

We will be holding 2 Question and Answer session on 30/1/2023 and 1/2/2023 at 12:00. This provides you the opportunity to speak to a Planning Inspector about their experiences of working at the Planning Inspectorate. If you however, cannot make those dates, we will be happy to put you in touch with one of our colleagues. To take up this opportunity please contact us at:

PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Memberships

Full/Chartered membership of relevant professional bodies. Please see candidate pack for a list of relevant professional bodies

Benefits

• Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• A generous civil service pension.
• 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years. Plus 1 privilege day to mark the King's birthday and bank holidays.
• Generous family friendly policies.
• Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Microsoft Office 10 and O365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.

Please candidate pack on Civil Service Jobs for full details