Principal Planner - Policy
Principal Planner (Policy)
£46,041 - £57,201 per annum
Please note, this role is a career graded post, however we are only seeking to recruit those who can meet the PO6 and above criteria. You will therefore be required to have had line management experience and experience of examination in public. The salary will therefore be from £51,093 to £57,201.
About Us
Newham will offer you a unique working environment within a London borough that is at the centre of many of Europe’s most exciting regeneration projects - including the Royal Docks (the new location for the Mayor of London’s City Hall) and Stratford (where the London Legacy Development Corporation’s planning powers are returning to the borough by the end of the year).
The Council has recently adopted a number of key corporate strategies – these include a declaration of climate emergency and adoption of a Just Transition Plan, underpinned by the objective to make the London Borough of Newham carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2045 and Community Wealth Building: an inclusive economic approach that aims to address poverty in the borough as well ensure that investment coming into Newham benefits all residents
Alongside these corporate priorities, the Planning Service is involved in the delivery of c.2800 new homes targeted per year, 31 Strategic Sites, an Enterprise Zone, large scale and distinctive employment-generating schemes, and major infrastructure projects underway. Alongside delivering the current Local Plan, the policy team is in the midst of producing a new Local Plan – starting the process of shaping the borough for the next 15 years. The production of the new Local Plan is a corporate priority for the administration, who are focussed on using planning policy innovatively to deliver for Newham residents.
Newham offers many career-defining opportunities to work at pace, at scale, and on innovative responses to complex issues. Newham is one of the youngest, most diverse, and vibrant boroughs in the UK. As an inclusive employer, we are committed to ensuring our workforce reflects our local population. We welcome and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, including applicants who are ethnically diverse and/or applicants who have a disability.
About the Job
As development and investment in the London moves steadily eastwards, Newham’s important strategic role continues to grow. The role is based in the Planning Policy Team, working alongside Development Management and the Investment Teams to shape development in the borough to ensure it meets our needs and aspirations.
This role will be joining the Policy team at an instrumental moment in the development of the Plan. We are about to start our regulation 19 consultation and are preparing for submission and examination in public. This role will be crucial in helping to ensure an innovative and ambitious plan succeeds at examination.
As well as developing a new Plan, the Policy Team is also involved in the pre-application process for major and other complex sites and work closely with Regeneration colleagues, the GLA and other partners to realise our vision through master planning and other delivery-focused projects. The team also has close links with services across the Council, working on joint strategies and supporting delivery to ensure the Local Plan sits at the heart of the Council’s work.
The post requires an appreciation and critical understanding of planning legislation and national and regional policy; a robust understanding of the importance of stakeholder and public engagement; and the ability to manage a complex and varied array of tasks and responsibilities to drive forward key projects individually and as part of a team. The role will also have line management responsibilities, providing an opportunity to support and develop more junior planners in the team.
If you want to help shape this part of London, turning our vision into reality – and leaving a lasting legacy for all its communities – come and join the team!
About You
This role is a career graded post, however we are only seeking to recruit those who can meet the PO6 and above criteria. You will therefore be required to have had line management experience and experience of examination in public.
You will be a knowledgeable and experienced Planner, confident in tackling new challenges and flexible in your approach to your work to allow you to adapt and meet the needs of the service. You should be able to lead, innovate and organise, while also inspiring and nurturing the talent and interest of other team members.
You will be politically astute with an appreciation of London and national politics and implications for planning and infrastructure delivery. You will be able to communicate complex and technical information accessibly to a range of audiences and build successful professional relationships both within the Council and with external stakeholders.
Please note that the qualifications section of the person specification will be used as a minimum short-listing criteria.
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/6027/principal-planner-august-2022-jd
Closing date: 17^th June 2024
Applying for this role
Please submit your application via the online portal, including providing details of your education and qualifications and work history. All applications should be accompanied by a supporting statement which outlines how you meet the requirements of the person specification. Your application needs to demonstrate clearly and concisely how you meet each of the criteria. Please give specific examples wherever possible. CVs alone are not accepted.
Additional information
We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.
The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.
We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.