Senior Planning Officer

Scottish Enterprise; Holytown; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working opportunities

LGPS pension scheme

Wellbeing and development benefits

Job summary

SEPA is seeking a Senior Planning Officer on a permanent, full-time basis in Scotland. You will support integrated environmental assessments and planning policy, advising planners and managing consultations to reflect environmental objectives.

The role emphasizes robust evidence, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration within the Evidence & Water Resilience portfolio. The position offers hybrid and flexible working, a strong benefits package including LGPS, and opportunities for professional

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication; ability to provide authoritative advice.
• Ability to build effective relationships with planning authorities and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Produce integrated responses to EIA, LDP, SEA and other consultations reflecting environmental objectives.
• Advise strategic and local planners on policy and environmental objectives; promote proactive environmental protection in relation to built development.
• Advise development management planners on implications of proposals; ensure robust evidence in plan preparation and delivery.
• Develop and manage the consultation process within policy and to relevant service levels.
• Build effective relationships with key stakeholders, including planning authorities and the Scottish Government.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Town and Country or Environmental Planning

Job description

We are recruiting for a full time Senior Planning Officer on a permanent basis

Your passion has never had a greater purpose

Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take – to protect our environment. Through our expertise, we lead projects that make a difference for Scotland, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.

That’s why, when you join us as Senior Planning Officer, you’ll discover enriching benefits, meaningful support, and opportunities to learn every day. That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful – for our environment, and for your career.

Work that goes beyond your desk

Experts at what we do, we work in a professional way towards our shared goals, knowing the work we do makes a genuine, lasting difference on the environment. As Senior Planning Officer, that involves:

• Produce integrated responses to EIA, LDP, SEA and other consultation ensuring that they reflect our environmental objectives
• Advise strategic and local planners of our policy and environmental objectives and encourage proactive approaches to environmental protection and improvement in relation to built development
• Advise development management planners on the specific implications that may arise from planning proposals; and ensure robust use of evidence in local development plan preparation and delivery
• Develop and manage the consultation process within policy and to relevant service levels
• Build effective relationships with key stakeholders, including planning authorities and the Scottish Government

Respect for your expertise

This is a highly important role within our Evidence & Water Resilience portfolio, which means you’ll need:

• Relevant experience or qualification equivalent - Degree in Town and Country or Environmental Planning
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Scottish Planning System
• Specialist and detailed knowledge of Planning and Environmental Legislation with the ability to analyse and interpret legislation, data or stakeholder requirements and translate business requirements to inform policy,strategyor approach
• Proven analytical problem-solving capability
• Highly developed oral and written communications skills with the experience of providing authoritative advice and guide others on the resolution of issues

Please open the link to the Senior Planning Officer role profile link which outlines the core responsibilities and expectations of the role within adefined activity family. Please note the role profile name may be different to the job title being advertised.

Support that goes beyond the workplace

We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. So, you’ll find benefits that make a difference at work and at home. Such as:

• Hybrid and Flexible working opportunities
• Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro rata)
• Paid time off to support your Wellbeing and enable you to Volunteer in your community
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Progressive Family Friendly policies
• Training & development to enablecolleagues to improve their skills, competencies and knowledge to perform at their best.

Plus, many more lifestyle benefits such as 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.

Passionately you. Purposefully supportive

SEPA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and good relations in everything it does – as a community leader, as a provider and commissioner of services, and as an employer.

Passionately Purposeful about Scotland’s environment – and your career.

Protecting our environment, promoting our work, and supporting our people, working at SEPA means being part of an organisation that’s grounded in respect for your expertise – and your wellbeing. So you can be your best, and make the biggest impact.

We support flexible workingarrangements to help you maintain a healthy balancebetween career and homelife. This includes workingpart time, reduced hours, job sharing, working remotely.As a flexible first employer we are open to havingconversations about flexible working arrangementsthat work for you and SEPA from day 1 of youremployment with us.

Weareproudtobea'DisabilityConfident'employerandwillworktoidentifyandimplementreasonableadjustmentsandequipmenttosupportyou in the role that you do.

Applicants with a visual impairment can request job descriptions and application forms in Braille, large print or on tape.

For the security and wellbeing of our colleagues, successful candidates willundergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre-employment checks including a level one Disclosure Scotlandcheck.

If you have questions or need any assistance with the recruitment process please contact SEPA’s Recruitment Team at [e-mail]