Planning Consultant

Place Services; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Place Services, a planning consultancy within Essex County Council, is hiring a Planning Consultant for a hybrid role based in Chelmsford. You will advise on planning matters for local authorities, deliver assessments and Local Plan evidence, and contribute to multi-disciplinary projects.

The role requires RTPI Licentiate status or equivalent, a Bachelor’s degree, and strong communication and client-service skills. Mobility across an operational area and a valid driving licence are expected.

Qualifications

• Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor’s degree), or equivalent professional experience.
• Evidence of continual professional development including Licentiate Membership of the RTPI.
• Capable technical and subject matter expert with planning policy, legislation and enforcement knowledge.
• Able to work without supervision across a range of activities in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Awareness of wellbeing and H&S; able to implement safe working practices.
• Able to communicate written technical advice for straightforward casework and public consultations.
• Ability to establish positive working relationships and strong client service.
• Proficient with common software, including Microsoft applications; GIS data management.

Responsibilities

• Advise on planning matters, including development management and strategic policy advice to local authorities.
• Evaluate and deliver planning assessments, SEA/SA, and prepare Local Plan evidence base documents.
• Undertake supervised specialist tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects.
• Communicate with diverse audiences and provide clear, concise technical output.
• Maintain good client service and build positive working relationships.

Skills

Communication

Project management

Teamwork

Wellbeing & H&S

GIS

MS Office

Research & analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree (RQF level 6)

RTPI Licentiate Membership

Tools

GIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council (ECC) providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities and other public bodies. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver its role in sustainable development. The purpose of the Planning Consultant is to provide effective delivery of planning services to our clients across Essex and England.

About You

The Planning Consultant will advise on planning matters, including providing development management and strategic policy advice to local authorities, evaluation and delivery of planning assessments, undertaking SEA/SA, and preparing local plan evidence base documents, undertaking supervised specialist tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects.

The role requires a qualified subject matter expert with graduate level technical knowledge and understanding of planning issues and relevant legislation, policy and standards, and guidance, the ability to communicate to a range of audiences, and an awareness of good client service.

• Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor’s degree), or equivalent professional experience.
• Evidence of continual professional development including Licentiate Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
• Capable technical and subject matter expert, with knowledge and experience of relevant development management processes, planning policy, legislation and enforcement, standards and guidance; planning assessments; SEA/SA and Local Plan evidence documents, and related office and site-based practices and procedures.
• Able to work confidently and consistently without supervision across a range of activities, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, using a range of tools to effectively manage simple projects from concept through to completion.
• Demonstrable awareness of wellbeing and H&S, experienced producing and implementing standard risk assessments, and able to identify and implement safe working practices for self and others.
• Able to communicate appropriately with different audiences, including through the preparation, with supervision, of clear, concise and factual written technical advice, documents and reports for straightforward casework and projects, and at public consultations.
• Ability to establish positive working relationships, with demonstrable awareness of good client service.
• Ability to use a range of common software packages, including all Microsoft applications, and, under supervision, to use relevant specialist software, such as GIS to implement data management and presentation of a range evidence and data, and to carry out straightforward research, analysis and interpretation.

This is a hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from the Chelmsford office at least one day per week, and across our operational area on other days, depending on business need.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role, so applicants must have current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.