Environment Agency
Planning Advisor (Town and Country Planning) (London/Kent) - 35743
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Job Description
Pre-Application advice,
In some area teams, Local Development Plans
You will work closely with colleagues in flood risk, water quality, contaminated land, biodiversity, and environmental management to manage and coordinate our expert advice. You will need to meet strict deadlines and targets under challenging work pressures. Alongside developing strong relationships with your Local Planning Authorities, you will also be working closely with developers and consultants, as well as having some engagement with water companies and government departments.
The successful candidate will need the ability to develop strong relationships, have excellent communication and customer service skills, and an awareness of the Government’s growth agenda, relevant planning systems, how the development industry in general operates as well as an understanding of Environment Agency objectives. This is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of planning systems while developing valuable skills in project management, financial oversight, leadership, and innovation.
Incident response is central to our mission, everyone who joins us undertakes training and is expected to incident response, which could attract additional payments; full training is provided.
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies.
Essential:
- Knowledge of the UK planning system and relevant legislation, particularly relating to local plans/supporting evidence and development management workstreams;
- Dealing with and advising on development issues and/or on complex environmental problems;
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to successfully engage with a range of audiences.
- Strong team ethic and ability to work independently.
- A proven ability to achieve results and proactively identify and solve problems.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively.
- Strong customer service, communication and relationship-building skills – both written and verbal.
- Excellent IT skills.
Desirable:
- A degree in Town and Country Planning or a relevant discipline would be an advantage but not absolutely necessary;
- A willingness to learn and enthusiasm for the environment and planning processes.
- Good understanding of our broad business and environmental activities.
The team
Sustainable Places is a friendly and supportive team that work across departments to deliver EA2030 goals. We work closely with internal technical teams to evaluate environmental data, evidence and assessments and produce consolidated planning responses on behalf of the Environment Agency. Externally, we advise councils and developers to ensure development happens in the right way with the right environmental infrastructure to protect and enhance the environment.
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Contact and additional information
You’ll have an EA Office base location.
One role is based in Marsham Street, Westminster, London and one role is based at Orchard House, Addington, Kent. The roles require regular attendance at your base location and regular visits to work in partnership with customers such as site visits and workshops/training.
Interviews will be held in person in London and Orchard House, Addington, Kent within two or three weeks of the closing date.
Please read the Candidate Pack for information.
Any queries, contact julie.adams@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams 2-3 weeks after the closing date.
If you consent, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Competence 1: Achieves Results
Description
Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets.
Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results
Question
In Sustainable Places we set out to achieve environmental gains through the planning system.
Please describe a situation when you have demonstrated your ability to prioritise and organise tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.
If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview.
Feedback is generally not available at sift stage
Competence 2: Communicates Effectively
Description
Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.
Question
A key part of this role will be communicating with customers
Please give an example of a time when you have had to tailor your communication style to a specific individual/situation
Competence 3: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question
In a Planning Advisor role, it is important you are able to influence others.
Can you tell us about a time when you have needed to persuade someone round to your point of view? How did you do this?
Competence 4: Managing the Agency’s Interaction in the Land Use Planning Process
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Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Description
Effectively coordinates the Environment Agency’s response to planning consultations to protect & enhance the environment
Question
How have your qualifications and work experience given you the knowledge and expertise to perform this role?
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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