Climate Change & Planning Manager

GLOUCESTER CITY COUNCIL; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

GLOUCESTER CITY COUNCIL seeks a dynamic professional to drive climate change adaptation through effective planning policies. This role offers flexibility and a chance to collaborate within a passionate team aiming for net zero goals in Gloucestershire. Ideal candidates will have experience in project management and sustainability, and a strong background in planning.

Benefits

Flexible, Hybrid/Agile working opportunities

Generous Annual Leave entitlement (30 days)

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Regular Training and Career Development

Qualifications

• Proven track record in managing complex projects.
• Experience in planning, building control, or housing.
• Understanding of sustainable building techniques.

Responsibilities

• Promote climate change adaptation in local planning.
• Develop best practices and evidence base for net zero goals.
• Support planning teams in innovative policymaking.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Sustainability Knowledge

Education

Background in Planning

Qualification in Climate or Sustainability

Job description

Fixed Term 2 years

We are a dynamic local authority providing essential services to the people of Gloucester.

Our main office, based in the Eastgate Centre on Eastgate Street in the heart of the city, is an accessible, modern and light space designed for collaborative working and finding new ways to work. It's all open plan, with a living green wall and other plants without set desks, so you can sit next to someone new every day. We're always looking to improve how we work and we offer flexible and agile working to give our people a great work life balance.

About the Role

This is a chance to work with a group of ambitious Authorities looking to instil climate change adaptation and mitigation into sustainable local planning policy; making sure that future Plans and planning practices for Gloucestershire are to the highest sustainability standard.

You’ll work with planning policy officers and teams across the county to develop best practice and a shared evidence base to help bring about the county’s net zero goals through local planning. There is real determination here in Gloucestershire to become an exemplar in truly sustainable planning, and we’re looking for someone who can match and realise that ambition. This role will not just feed into the Local Plans across the county, but other key documents such as the county Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, Local Transport Plan, Local Area Energy Plan and other evolving local relevant strategies; and the postholder will also need to make key links between these documents and teams. You’ll also work to upskill and support planning teams where necessary, to ensure that they have the confidence to take forward innovative policy.

What we need from you

To be successful in this role we need someone with a proven track record in managing complex projects and bringing about service improvement, preferably in relevant disciplines such as planning, building control, or housing. Alongside experience of working at a senior level to drive change with multiple stakeholders.

Preferably you will have a background and/or qualification in planning, and experience in climate, sustainability or planning policy fields – ideally understanding the interaction between these disciplines. Practical on-site experience of sustainable building techniques and knowledge of sustainability measures in the built environment would be highly desirable.

What we can do for you

For all your hard work, you will receive the following:

• Flexible, Hybrid/Agile working opportunities
• Generous Annual Leave entitlement 30 days annual leave
• An option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• 2 days paid leave every year to participate in local volunteering activities
• Excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) & Life Cover of 3 times your salary
• Regular Training, career development and qualification opportunities
• Supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential, counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone, and an in-house Occupational Health service
• Enhanced family friendly leave and pay
• Cycle to Work scheme (Salary Sacrifice -T&C apply)
• Coming Soon - Car Scheme (Salary Sacrifice -T&C apply)
• Employee discount scheme
• Discounted tickets for local events, and reduced rate use of GL1 facilities
• Free Flu-jabs
• Access to employee led networks such as Black Worker’s, Prism (LGBT+), Carers, Disability and the Young Employees Network, and opportunities to participate in our Equalities Working Group

How to apply

If you feel you have the skills, desire and experience required to make a positive difference then please submit your application and personal statement today by clicking the “Apply Now” Button.

Additional Information

Gloucester City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Equality and Diversity

We recognise the positive value of equality and diversity and pride ourselves on growing a high-performing workforce that is diverse, skilled and talented; that represents the community it serves.

We aim to recruit a diverse pool of talent and will recruit the person who is most suited to the job without regard to their race, colour, religion or belief, age, nationality, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, caring responsibilities or disability.

We are a disability confident employer committed to removing barriers to employment to those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure to ensure that no-one is disadvantages because of their disability. Please contact the recruitment team if you require support or reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process

Further information on our commitment to Equality and Diversity can be found on our website.

If you wish to apply for this position on a secondment basis, please obtain approval from your current line manager that you may be released on a secondment before submitting an application form.

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.

Closing date: 4 August 2025.