Job Description

Details

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Reference number

408010
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Salary

43,763
The salary for this role will be 48,104 (London) or 43,763 (National).




For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If you apply for a role that requires a transfer of location, for example if you are transferring from London to a National location, your salary will be adjusted in accordance with our policy on transfer between HQ pay ranges.




To be eligible for this salary you must be a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and undertaking an eligible role as determined by the Planning Head of Profession.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Other###

Contract type

Permanent###

Type of role

Planning###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Bristol, Darlington, Leeds, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton

About the job

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Job summary

Are you able to build strong relationships that will enable you to influence and challenge at all levels?



Are you proactive in seeking resolutions and can resolve issues that arise through innovative thinking?



Have you got exceptional written and oral communication skills?



If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Planning Technical Officer to join our team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and we'd love to hear from you!



The role sits in the Planning Policy division in the Planning Directorate. The division is currently leading on high profile work across Government to deliver ambitious reforms to the Environmental Assessment regimes, covering both the Nature Restoration Fund and Environmental Outcome Reports.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure, supporting delivery of the government's Plan for Change milestones of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England and fast-tracking 150 planning decisions on major economic infrastructure projects by the end of this Parliament.



The Nature Restoration Fund forms part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, seeking to create the opportunity for housing and infrastructure to do more for environmental recovery. This is a marked change from the current approach which, at most, requires development to offset its impact and no further, while placing strong emphasis on precisely calculated project-by-project measures. This can slow development coming forward and do little to support nature recovery. The measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill provide the framework to for a more strategic approach through the creation of Environmental Delivery Plans which will be prepared by Natural England and made by the Secretary of State.



The new approach will ensure there is a clear focus on protecting our environment, pursuing positive environmental improvements and providing clear join-up between strategic and project scale assessments.



We have a vacancy in the Environmental Planning Reform team to support the work on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the delivery of our reforms through secondary legislation and the implementation within the planning system. This is an exciting and high-profile area of work, closely linked to the Government's growth mission and at the heart of the environmental planning reform programme. The role will require working strategically with other team members who are delivering the Government's planning reforms, collaborating with other teams across Government and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.

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Job description

You will act as a senior planning technical officer across the department's environmental planning and assessment portfolio. The post offers the opportunity to advise Ministers on a range of high-profile matters, support the passage of a Bill through Parliament and help shape policy design and delivery across government. You will help support the delivery of the team's strategic priorities, including:

Supporting the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill through Parliament Delivering and implementing the Nature Restoration Fund (including the approach to Environmental Delivery Plans and the Nature Restoration Levy). Developing the new system of Environmental Outcomes Reports Cross-government alignment on key policies (ranging from environmental matters through to hydrocarbons) The role will focus on detailed policy development and will involve close working with legal colleagues to create the necessary secondary legislation to deliver on our reform agenda. The post is an opportunity to work on a high-profile policy area as part of a friendly and high-performing team, and to gain experience of working with Ministers and across Government on technical complex and sometimes high-profile areas of planning.

Key responsibilities:

Lead on briefings and advice to Ministers to support the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Undertaking policy analysis to support the delivery and implementation of reforms to environmental assessment. Managing the ongoing programme of stakeholder and user engagement to support Parliamentary handling and policy development. Leading on the analysis of evidence gathered through engagement and consultation to support policy development and legislation. Leading relationship with key stakeholders across government supporting the relationship with MHCLG legal advisors on the delivery of secondary legislation and guidance ###

Person specification

Essential criteria:

Must hold a town planning qualification or have equivalent level of applied experience Substantial experience in one or more of the following disciplines: strategic planning, local or transport plan-making processes, environmental assessment, development consenting (NSIP), development management (TCPA) or environmental permitting processes; Able to form strong, effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including officials across Whitehall, subject-matter experts, and external bodies; Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data, evidence, and stakeholders' views to outline options for policy development, and present clear conclusions; Comfortable working at pace and under pressure while handling challenging policy issues; Able to verbally brief senior civil servants, write succinct and clear written briefings for Ministers, and draft public briefing lines. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas and legal language into clear and succinct arguments.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

We will want to understand technical skills as a town planning professional in line with the essential criteria set out in the person specification. 'Professional level' is defined as exercising independent professional judgement to make decisions or influence.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 43,763, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes 12,678 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

As part of our pre-employment checking process, we will be using your CV to confirm your job history. Please note that by providing us with your CV you are consenting to us using the information enclosed as part of the checking process.

CV and Cover Letter Declaration

We recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - this is called name blind recruitment.


Please remove references to your:

name/title educational institutions age gender email address postal address phone number nationality/immigration status

You will need to merge your CV and covering letter into one document.

When submitting your application Applied will ask you to upload a CV, when doing this you should upload your merged document of your CV and covering letter

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Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that your application would be viewed by different assessors.

At sift, through your CV and covering letter we will be assessing:

Technical Experience


Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description and the technical experience.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements:

Behaviour - Seeing The Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together, Delivering at Pace


Technical: Yes


Candidates invited to interview will be expected to prepare a 5minute presentation further details of this will be sent along with interview invites

In the full campaign we will test the below Success Profile Elements:

Experience: Yes


Technical: Yes


Strength: Yes/No


Behaviours: Yes

Please contact the vacancy manager if you have any questions about the role.

We do not consider direct CV applications - you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs.

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign.

SPTO (Senior Planning Technical Officer)

The salary for this role will be 48,104 (London) or 43,763 (National).

For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If you apply for a role that requires a transfer of location, for example if you are transferring from London to a National location, your salary will be adjusted in accordance with our policy on transfer between HQ pay ranges.

To be eligible for this salary you must be a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and undertaking an eligible role as determined by the Planning Head of Profession.

Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation's terms and conditions.

Benefits

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018

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Any move to MHCLG from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.


For further information about the benefits available to MHCLG employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Location

Leeds London Manchester Bristol Darlington
Wolverhampton


There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.

Please note:

The Darlington Economic Campus is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service.

For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack.


At present, a minimum of 60% of your working time will be spent in your contractual office location. Requirements to attend other office locations or off-site meetings will be counted towards this. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

Sift and Interview dates

sifting is envisaged to take place W/C 13/06/2025 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall.

Reserve List

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@communities.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list.

Security Clearance Requirements:

All MHCLG colleagues must meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity and employment history. In addition to the BPSS, all staff based at our Marsham Street office in must be cleared to at least Counter Terrorism Check level - this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Important note

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is DV (Developed Vetting) and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete.


Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the DV checks - this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 10 years. Please refer to the MHCLG Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Developed Vetting.


Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by MHCLG. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
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Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Ryan Shean Email : Ryan.Shean@communities.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

* Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk