Senior Planning Officer

Senior Planning Officer

Job details

Here’s how the job details align with your profile.

Pay

- £51,029 a year

Job type

- Permanent

Location

London

Benefits

Pulled from the full job description

- Annual leave
- Company pension
- Season ticket loan

Full job description

Key information

Salary: £51,029

Grade: 8

Contract type: Permanent

Reference: 046998

Interview date: To be confirmed

Application closing date: Thu, 14/11/2024 - 23:59

About the role

Old Oak Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Planner to join its Development Management team in the Planning Directorate.

Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)

This is your opportunity to help shape Old Oak and Park Royal,





London’s largest Opportunity Area and one of the most exciting and ambitious regeneration projects in the UK. OPDC is one of only two of the Mayor of London’s Development Corporations and spans three London boroughs, the Park Royal industrial estate and is home to the new High Speed 2 and Elizabeth line station, the only place where these two major new rail lines meet. OPDC is leading the planning and regeneration of this emerging new district with the potential to deliver many thousands of new homes and jobs over the coming years.

What we’re looking for

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented individual to join our Development Management team as a Senior Planner on a permanent contract, to help resource an expanding workload associated with increased planning and development activity in the area. You will have a varied caseload comprising a range of planning applications and pre-application proposals, including major residential, mixed use and industrial developments,





post-permission matters including the discharge of conditions and Section 106 obligations, as well as some smaller commercial, householder and other applications. Working within a close-knit team, you will be expected to work proactively on your own caseload, prepare reports for decision under delegated authority and by OPDC’s Planning Committee, and respond to enquiries from the public, providing advice and guidance on the OPDC’s planning processes and implementation of policies within the OPDC Local Plan.

You will possess a relevant degree and be eligible for RTPI membership. You will be able to demonstrate successful experience in a similar role and will have a good understanding of the working environment of a local planning authority.





Experience of dealing with large-scale major applications will be an advantage but is not essential. You will also have an excellent understanding of the local, regional and national planning policy context and legislative framework. You believe strongly in working flexibly as part of a team to get the job done and are confident in your technical expertise and experience to proactively manage your own workload and deliver successful outcomes.

Principal accountabilities

- Manage and assess a diverse caseload of planning applications in accordance with agreed performance targets by ensuring prompt registration and validation, consultation with stakeholders and compliance with statutory requirements. Prepare written reports for decision both under delegated authority and by Planning Committee,





securing positive planning outcomes that contribute to the delivery of OPDC’s planning and regeneration objectives, under the supervision of team managers.

- Proactively evaluate pre-application proposals, advising on planning policy compliance, the form and content of planning applications, procedural matters and all other relevant planning issues, in accordance with OPDC’s pre-application advice service standards and negotiate Planning Performance Agreements as appropriate, under the supervision of team managers.

- Respond to general planning enquiries from members of the public and other stakeholders on matters such as the need for planning permission, Freedom of Information requests and the decision-making process.

- Produce briefings, reports and presentations for internal and external audiences including senior managers,





Planning Committee and Board members on planning matters and represent OPDC at meetings with key stakeholders including members of the public in a positive and professional way.

- Negotiate Section 106 legal agreements including instructing OPDC’s legal advisers under the direction of the Head of Development Management and other team managers.

- Prepare and/or support more senior staff in the preparation of statements of case and proofs of evidence that robustly defend OPDC’s planning decisions at appeal. Where appropriate, represent OPDC at public inquiries and informal hearings.

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications







- Appropriate planning qualification and eligibility for membership of the RTPI together with a record of continuing professional development.

- Demonstrable experience of managing own caseload of planning applications, pre-applications and the discharge of planning conditions

- Good understanding of the working environment of a local planning authority

- An understanding of the local, regional and national planning policy context and legislative framework

Behavioural competencies

Communicating and Influencing

…is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

- Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
- Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
- Persuades others,





using evidence-based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
- Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
- Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

Building and Managing Relationships

…is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

- Develops new professional relationships
- Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement
- Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict and takes action
- Fosters an environment where others feel respected
- Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals







Planning and Organising

…is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

- Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables
- Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones
- Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work
- Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard
- Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

Decision Making

…is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

- Takes decisions as necessary on the basis of the information available
- Makes decisions without unnecessarily referring to others
- Involves and consults internal and external stakeholders early in decisions that impact them
- Identifies potential barriers to decision-making and initiates action to move a situation forward
- Demonstrates awareness of the GLA’s decision-making processes and how to use them

Responding to Pressure & Change

…is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

- Maintains a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure
- Anticipates and adapts flexibly to changing requirements
- Uses challenges as an opportunity to learn and improve
- Participates fully and encourages others to engage in change initiatives
- Manages team’s well-being, supporting them to cope with pressure and change

The OPDC Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: OPDC/GLA competency framework.

This role is based at One West Point, 7 Portal Way, North Acton, London, W3 6RT

OPDC staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

Application process & additional information

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role.

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

- Up to date CV
- Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345).

Applications submitted without a Covering Letter will not be considered.

At OPDC we are dedicated to empowering team members through ongoing learning opportunities and professional development initiatives. Our commitment to learning and development means that we will provide you with the resources and support to expand your skills and grow your career.

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of OPDC’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and covering letters that could cause discrimination.

Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.

Application closing date: 14 November 2024 at 23:59

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, please feel free to contact Patrick Harmsworth at [email protected] to arrange a call.

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice

More support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact [email protected].

Apply here

▶️ Senior Planning Officer
🖊️ Greater London Authority
📍 London