Development Planning Planner

Join us now to be part of the vital force in protecting and enhancing our National Park. We as a National Park Authority play a crucial role in tackling the twin challenges of the Global Climate Emergency and Nature Crisis.

Job Title: Development Planning Planner

Location: Balloch, with hybrid working model in place

Salary: £33,622 - £40,473 (Band D) per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week, we are happy to talk part time and flexible working

Status: Permanent

Do you have experience in development planning and a passion for using this to support nature restoration and tackle climate change? Then we want to hear from you!

Our Communities and Place Planning team lead the delivery of our Local Development Plan with the aim of ensuring that development and land use within the National Park is managed and used in ways that deliver a wide range of benefits for people and place, with the aim of helping tackle the climate emergency and nature crisis and supporting transition to a greener, wellbeing economy.

This is an exciting time to join our team as we are developing a new suite of Plans for the National Park including a new National Park Partnership Plan, Local Development Plan and Regional Land Use Framework, as well as strengthening our relationships with local communities through support to them as they prepare their own Local Place Plans. A large part of our role is partnership working so this is an opportunity to work with a range of stakeholders to secure place-based outcomes at community and landscape scale within the National Park.

We are looking for an exceptional, motivated individual to join our team and help support this work.

The Role:

You will support all activities relating to our statutory plans for the National Park, including the development of the new Local Development Plan working within a small team including our other Development Planner, our Planning Assistant and our two Community Sustainable Development Advisers. Our team works closely with other teams including nature and land use, access and tourism teams.

We are entering into a new phase of plan making where bold and ambitious strategy and actions are required to help tackle new and emerging issues and meet requirements set in National Planning Framework 4. You will bring fresh thinking to the role and help develop innovative approaches to help ensure development and land use within the National Park helps secure outcomes for nature, climate and people.

You will also help support the development and delivery of other plans and strategies such as our new National Park Partnership Plan, Land Use Plans and Frameworks and support local communities to prepare their Local Place Plans.

You will help support implementation and delivery of these plans, including project delivery, monitoring, research and evaluation.

This role potentially includes line management of our Planning Assistant who leads on all of our monitoring work, updates to our Action Programme, audits and Scottish Government reporting.

You will have experience of development planning, ideally in a rural environment and have a good understanding of rural land use and management and/or regeneration of rural towns and villages. You will have a creative approach towards your work and be prepared to show leadership in rural development planning and in piloting new approaches.

Responsibilities:

· Contribute to a positive and efficient Development Planning service through preparation of policies and strategies and implementation of the statutory processes which deliver an up to date Local Development Plan, and supporting planning guidance addressing physical development issues and aspirations of the Park. Contribute to other aspects of the Service including: supporting wider Statutory Planning tasks; supporting the delivery of services on-line; and participating in the delivery of any related project activity.

· Contribute to ensuring that the Planning Service is operated to a high standard, including ensuring the delivery of defined performance targets and outcomes and an excellent public service.

· Contribute as required to the development of other policies and guidance which inform wider Authority strategies and initiatives.

· Contribute effectively to a customer focussed planning advice and information service and to all monitoring and information systems, including online digital services, which provide intelligence on planning and development in the National Park.

· Develop or support initiatives which promote wider understanding of planning issues and the operation of the Planning Service in the National Park, and provide more effective opportunities for public involvement in the planning process.

· Enable the necessary partnerships, engagement and consultation processes with other organisations, interests and stakeholders in the planning system to secure support for the defined priorities and outcomes being delivered by the planning service.

Who we are looking for:

Your skills, abilities and experience should include:

· Demonstrable experience, high degree of professionalism and record of success in successful development planning service.

· Knowledge and experience of rural planning issues.

· Numerate and computer literate.

· Excellent written and oral skills

· Articulate with excellent interpersonal skills

· Degree or equivalent in Planning

· Corporate membership of RTPI

· Current UK Driving Licence

· Flexible approach to working hours as evening and weekend working will be required

Ideally, but not essential, you’ll also have:

· Up-to-date knowledge of the Scottish environmental, land use and planning sector.

· Line management experience.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this role, complete your application by 5^th April 2023 @ 9am.

· Access our application form on our website

· Interviews will be virtual

· Interview dates are set for: 17^th April 2023

Who we are and our values:

We offer flexible and remote working, with a generous pension scheme and annual leave allowance. Staff have access to wellbeing services and there is a strong focus on wellbeing throughout the organisation.

Being part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority means being passionate about what you do, working hard to inspire and lead the way for others. We care about each other and are accessible and friendly treating each other with respect and understanding, we think about our planet with each decision we make. Together, we are the difference.

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority are proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience is vital in our success we want our business to be representative to the communities we work alongside. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.