3118 - Planning Officer

Welsh Government; Wales; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental body in the UK seeks a Planning Officer to provide support on major infrastructure projects, assess Environmental Impact Assessments, and mentor team members. The ideal candidate should have knowledge of environmental issues related to planning. The role offers flexible working options and a Civil Service pension with substantial employer contributions.

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role

Flexible working options

Inclusive culture

Civil Service pension with 28.97% contribution

Qualifications

• Awareness of environmental, social, and economic issues associated with infrastructure projects.
• Understanding of Environmental Impact Assessment principles and stages.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and environmental support on major infrastructure projects.
• Assess and respond to technical aspects of Environmental Impact Assessments.
• Manage projects and deliver core products like screening directions and Environmental Statement reviews.
• Support Inspectors and case officers on EIA matters.
• Mentor others and support their personal development.
• Evaluate evidence from all parties in relation to casework.
• Reach sound judgments and provide recommendations on planning decisions.

Job description

PEDW is the division of the Welsh Government that processes planning appeals and associated casework on behalf of the Welsh Ministers. Planning Officers on the Planning and Environment team provide professional planning and environmental input and support on a wide range of activities including dealing with applications for major infrastructure applications, Local Development Plan (LDP) examinations, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and produces decisions or Reports on appropriate casework.

The post holder will be required to effectively review evidence and produce soundly reasoned, impartial decisions, or recommendation reports to Welsh Ministers, that are expressed clearly and concisely in plain English. The post holder will also help to deliver PEDW's response to changes in policy, legislation and caselaw. The post holder will also develop their own subject matter expertise to increase capability, planning knowledge and resilience within the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and provide planning and environmental support on projects throughout the relevant major infrastructure consenting regimes determined by Welsh Ministers, including pre-application environmental advice to developers and other stakeholders.
• Act, with support, in assessing and responding to Applicants, other stakeholders, Inspectors and PEDW case teams on technical aspects of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA).
• Manage assigned projects and deliver core products such as; screening directions; scoping directions; Environmental Statement (ES) reviews; HRA reviews.
• Support and advise Inspectors, Appellants/Applicants and case officers on EIA matters relating to casework in making screening decisions writing Screening Directions, determining adequacy of Environmental Statements and with support making requests for further environmental information.
• Provide advice and support to Applicants/Appellants to ensure that technical information required for determining requests for EIA screening and scoping opinions for EIAs is robust and appropriate.
• Mentor others, supporting with their personal development objectives, providing coaching and other support including training in activities related to their role as required.
• Effectively evaluate and review evidence from all parties in relation to relevant casework, assimilate complex, opposing and contradictory written evidence in reaching planning judgments.
• Reach soundly reasoned impartial judgments, and report on your recommendations or make decisions on behalf of the Welsh Ministers which are evidence-based and expressed convincingly, and concisely in plain written English.

Requirements

Awareness of the wide ranging and complex environmental, social, and economic issues associated with infrastructure projects. Understanding of the principles and stages of Environmental Impact Assessment relating to infrastructure projects, including screening and scoping processes.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.