Planning Adviser

National Trust; Ballynahinch; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Rental deposit loan scheme

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking at most Trust places

Job summary

The National Trust in Northern Ireland is seeking a part-time Planning Specialist to lead planning matters, advise on development and land management, and influence policy. Based at Rowallane Garden, Saintfield, County Down, you will join a multi-disciplinary team and collaborate across sites and forums.

With a focus on sustainable development and community access, you will balance office work with site visits, and work 40–60% of the week on Trust sites and in networks to deliver strategic

Qualifications

• Significant practical knowledge of the Northern Ireland Planning Act, SPPS and regional planning context.
• An experienced planner with breadth in infrastructure, transport, policy development, environment, landscape or heritage.
• Ability to horizon scan, identify risks and opportunities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and advisory capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead on all planning matters across Northern Ireland and provide specialist advice on local spatial planning and land management.
• Influence external major projects and internal site developments to support sustainable futures.
• Offer up-to-date expertise and guidance to colleagues and decision-makers.
• Engage with planning networks and forums to share learnings and align with strategic priorities.

Skills

Northern Ireland planning act

Strategic planning

Policy development

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Communication with diverse audiences

Education

Chartered Town Planner / eligibility for RTPI

Job description

Summary

At the National Trust we care for places of historic interest and natural beauty for everyone, for ever. We provide access to more land in Northern Ireland, England and Wales than any other private landowner. We understand the importance of influencing the planning system at local, regional and national levels in accordance with our statutory purpose, in order to safeguard special places whilst regarding conservation as the careful management of change. Effective planning and land management is at the heart of everything we do. Our sites are under increasing pressure from competing land uses, and we have an important role to play in promoting an integrated approach to sustainable development. We recognise the importance of early engagement to maximising our influence and increasingly we are exploring working in partnership to deliver more through developments as they come forward.

Hours: 22.5 hours per week, flexible working pattern, to be discussed further at interview.

Salary: £30,000 per annum (£50,000 full-time equivalent)

What It's Like To Work Here

As part of the wider National Trust Specialist Delivery team and as one of a multi-disciplinary team of experts, you’ll be working collaboratively with others to support delivery of our strategic priorities. You will connect and actively engage with the Trust’s planning community through a range of forums and networks, which provide training, support and guidance and shared learnings. We want to build on our existing work to bring benefit to more people in ways that are meaningful and relevant through working in partnership for shared outcomes. This part-time role covers Northern Ireland, and so your contractual place of work will be the regional hub office at Rowallane Garden, Saintfield, County Down. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at and beyond National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40-60% of your working week. Recognising this is a part-time role, work prioritisation and capacity planning will be dynamically reviewed to ensure a manageable workload and a continued focus of your expertise on the most complex and strategic work.

What You'll Be Doing

Acting as the lead on all planning matters across Northern Ireland, you’ll provide specialist advice on everything from local spatial planning, development management and land management, as well as policy-related work. You will be able to tackle a wide range of planning challenges facing our places, from influencing external major infrastructure and third-party development projects to the sensitive development of our own sites to sustain their future. With your proven experience colleagues will look to you for in-depth, up-to-the-minute expert advice and guidance. Like everyone here, you’ll relish the challenge of helping more people to enjoy our special places and spaces, and to safeguard them for everyone, for ever.

Who We're Looking For

• Significant practical knowledge of the Northern Ireland Planning Act, SPPS and regional planning context
• An experienced planner (either urban or rural planning) with broader knowledge and experience across at least one of the following areas: major infrastructure, transport planning, policy development, environmental issues, landscape or heritage.
• Ability to bring strategic oversight; to horizon scan and identify risks and opportunities
• Adept at analysing, resolving and preparing positions or advice on planning issues and able to influence positive outcomes across decision-making and policy creation.
• Understanding of what’s happening in the wider world of land use and planning, including relevant legislation.
• A chartered Town Planner (or with eligibility for full membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute)
• A flexible thinker and problem‑solver, skilled at negotiating and building productive networks, and confident in using your expertise to influence decisions
• A skilled communicator, who can build strong relationships within diverse teams, both internally and externally, translating complex matters to diverse audiences.
• A confident and experienced stakeholder manager with the ability to build rapport quickly and influence outcomes.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

National Trust place