Dorset Council
Conservation and Design Officer
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Conservation Officer
Are you an experienced Conservation professional with a passion for the historic environment, and a pragmatic outlook regarding Listed Buildings and the historic environment?
Come and join our friendly dedicated Conservation & Design Team as a Conservation Officer and experience the beauty of Dorset every day in your job.
With over 12500 Listed Building and 188 Conservation Areas, Dorset Council is a largely rural county with a diverse landscape and long history. Over half of the county is designated as a National Landscape, and three quarters of the coastline is part of the Jurassic Coast Natural World Heritage site.
As the home of Thomas Hardy, Corfe Castle, the iconic Gold Hill, and the Cerne Abbas Giant, Dorset is a fascinating place to work.
We have a friendly workplace where you’ll be free to learn and thrive. Employee benefits include a local government pension, flexible working and continual learning and development. With beautiful beaches and countryside on your doorstep too, a career in Dorset comes with everything you need.
What will you be doing?
Working with a supportive and enthusiastic team of Conservation Officers you will:
- be responsible for assessing and negotiating applications for Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II listed buildings and Conservation Areas at pre-application and application stage across the Dorset Council area
- be playing an active role in development management both in the assessment and determination of Listed Building Consent applications, and also in providing consultation responses to planning applications affecting heritage assets
- contribute to the development of guidance notes and Supplementary Planning Documents, and take part in planning committees, appeal hearings and inquiries
- investigate and provide specialist advice on enforcement cases
You may also have the opportunity to review and update Conservation Area Appraisals, and assess the Buildings at Risk Register.
We take a practical approach to managing our historic environment. We’re looking for someone who shares this outlook—someone who’s not only passionate about conservation but also driven to find innovative solutions to complex challenges. If you’re resourceful, practical, and keen to make a tangible difference, we’d love to hear from you.
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About You
The successful applicant will have an appropriate qualification in Town and Country Planning, Building Conservation, or a related discipline. Membership (or eligibility for membership) of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is an advantage.
You Will:
- have good communication skills (written and spoken) and the ability to respond confidently in a variety of situations
- be able to write reports and policy documents and give presentations to committees, appeals and other groups. You will be skilled and experienced at assessing development proposals and their impacts on heritage assets and at providing technical and design advice to Listed Building occupiers and those in Conservation Areas
- have experience working with large estates and challenging stakeholders is desirable
- have a pragmatic outlook regarding Listed Buildings ensuring that they remain in productive uses for future generations
- be confident and diplomatic in dealing with customers and stakeholders
- need to demonstrate a proven ability to make competent decisions on matters relating to listed buildings and Conservation Areas and have a good understanding of relevant policy
Further Information
This is a full time role at 37 hours per week, grade 9 to 11.
Please note that we use generic job descriptions and the context statements sets out the key work of the role.
This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.
You will be required to work across the Dorset Council area and carry out site visits and appraisals, so a full driving licence is required. You will therefore need to live within reasonable travel distance of one of the Council’s offices (Dorchester, Wimborne, Wareham).
We work flexible hours and support agile working, including working from home where this fits with work demands. Applications from those wishing to work part-time as well as full-time are welcome. You will be expected to undertake continuing professional development.
Contact details: For an informal discussion about the role please contact Kathryn Melhuish, Team leader for Conservation, tel 01202 228775
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Interviews to be on 12th November in Dorchester.
About Us:
Dorset is a beautiful and iconic area, with historic market towns and miles of stunning coast. But it’s also a place of growth and innovation, with a population of 375,000 and an economy worth over £7 billion. To serve this unique area, a new unitary council was established in 2019. Bold and ambitious, with a One Team approach, we’re taking Dorset into the future – and our Planning team is taking centre stage. The Conservation team is a specialist team sitting within the wider planning team.
At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:
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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.
We:
- provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
- work in partnership to make a real difference
- value every role and the impact it has on our communities
- support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive
You Will:
- be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
- have access to a range of benefits and support
- receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.
This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.
If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.
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