31483 - Planning Officer (Town and Country Planning)

Environment Agency; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organization is seeking an Entry Grade Planning Officer to join the East Anglian Sustainable Places team. The role involves engaging with Local Planning Authorities, managing planning consultations, and building relationships to enhance environmental outcomes. Ideal candidates will have strong customer service and communication skills, be self-motivated, and possess a valid UK driving licence. The organization promotes diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Willingness to learn quickly.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Valid UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to the Sustainable Places team.
• Manage responses to planning consultations.
• Build relationships to influence planning decisions.

Skills

Customer service skills

Communication skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Self-motivated

Positive attitude

Job description

Do you want to make East Anglia a better place to live and work? Ensuring growth in the region protects and enhances our unique environment?We do just that! If you have a passion for this, we encourage you to apply.

We are looking for an entry grade Planning Officer to join the East Anglian Sustainable Places team. You will be on the frontline engaging with Local Planning Authorities, developers and consultants to ensure that the large amounts of growth and regeneration planned are delivered in a way which protects and enhances the environment for future generations.

In East Anglia we have some of the biggest environmental challenges including flood risk, water quality and water resources. Though challenging, this creates opportunities for an interesting, varied and diverse workload.

Your work will involve:
• Providing technical and administrative support to the Sustainable Places team to ensure we maximise results and work efficiently.
• Managing our response to lower risk statutory planning consultations and pre-planning enquiries.
• Building relationships with various internal teams to ensure we get timely and high quality advice to help influence planning decisions.
• Identifying and embracing new ways of working to improve efficiency and customer service.

In East Anglia we want to create a diverse workplace where people are respected, valued and listened to. We’re all different, and by embracing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) we can become an equal opportunity employer where jointly we all grow and learn together.

It is our ambition to champion diversity through building a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate. Please see the candidate pack for more on how you will support with this.

The team

The Sustainable Places team, within Local Operations, is part of a cross-cutting department that works in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to deliver EA2030 goals.

We use a place-based approach to influence strategic plans, major development schemes and planning applications, working closely with technical teams to evaluate environmental data, evidence and assessments.

We are a positive, friendly and hardworking team who take pride in protecting and enhancing the environment for future generations.

Experience/skills required

Expected skills and experience include:
• A willingness to learn new things and take on information quickly.
• Strong customer service, communication and relationship building skills – both written and verbal.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills and the ability to positively respond to changing and challenging priorities within set timescales.
• Self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• A positive and enthusiastic attitude, with a drive to seek new innovative ways of working.
• A full UK driving licence.

Desirable:
• An understanding of environmental issues and opportunities and/or the UK town and country planning system.
• Ability to confidently negotiate and influence others.
• Ability to make sound decisions based on competing or complex factors

The candidate pack and generic role profile should be read along with the advert to understand the key accountabilities and skills needed.