Senior Planning Officer

Scottish Environment Protection Agency; Holytown; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and flexible working

Up to 35 days annual leave + 7 public

LGPS

Family friendly policies

Training & development

Employee discount platform

Job summary

Scottish Environment Protection Agency is recruiting for a full time Senior Planning Officer on a permanent basis. You will influence environmental objectives across EIA, LDP and SEA processes and advise planners to ensure robust, evidence-based decision making.

.hybrid working is available with benefits including generous annual leave, LGPS, and development opportunities. You will engage with planning authorities and the Scottish Government to deliver sustainable development across Scotland.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with planning authorities and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Produce integrated responses to EIA, LDP, SEA and other consultations reflecting SEPA's environmental objectives.
• Advise strategic and local planners on policy and environmental objectives; encourage proactive environmental protection in relation to development.
• Advise development management planners on implications of planning proposals with evidence-based inputs for local plan delivery.
• Develop and manage consultation processes within policy and to relevant service levels.
• Build effective relationships with key stakeholders, including planning authorities and the Scottish Government.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Oral and written communications

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

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 policiesWait there might be small typo? Actually list continues:
• Progressive Family Friendly policies
• Training & development to enable colleagues 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.

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 recruit solely based on merit. Our shortlisting process is conducted on an anonymous basis. Please ensure that you include all relevant information when you apply.

We support flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy balance between career and homelife. This includes working part time, reduced hours, job sharing, working remotely. As a flexible first employer we are open to having conversations about flexible working arrangements that work for you and SEPA from day 1 of your employment with us.

We are proud to be a 'Disability Confident' employer and will work to identify and implement reasonable adjustments and equipment to support you 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 will undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre-employment checks including a level one Disclosure Scotland check.

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