Sustainable Planning Specialist

Are you driven by a motivation to ensure high standards for sustainability in new developments? If so, we want to hear from you.

West Oxfordshire District Council has put climate action and nature at the heart of its Local Recovery Plan. In taking forward the Council’s commitment to a green recovery, we are now looking for a Sustainability Specialist to work as the technical specialist within the Development Management team in Planning. We are determined to ‘build back better’ as the District recovers from the impacts of the pandemic.

About the role…

You will implement our new Sustainability Standards Checklist for Planning to raise standards in new and retrofit development, helping to deliver local action through planning as part of the Council's response to addressing the climate and ecological emergency in West Oxfordshire. 

You will provide specialist knowledge of sustainability standards with a focus on net-zero and low-carbon development, water-conservation measures, methods of sustainable urban drainage and techniques for sustainable design and construction. You will implement our Sustainability Standards Checklist alongside local, national planning policy requirements and other statutory requirements ensuring all development in West Oxfordshire is built to the highest standards of environmental sustainability.

The Council’s recovery plan includes action for the economy, the community and climate which, in turn, reflect the Council’s priorities. The “live” status of the recovery plan represents the agile approach being taken to address new challenges as the District plans and delivers its recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. This position represents a key role identified to help implement the Council’s recovery plans.

Who are we…

Four partner Councils (West Oxfordshire District Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Forest of Dean District Council and Cotswold District Council) have created Publica Group Ltd to deliver more efficient and improved services. The Councils will continue to be responsible for the standard of services that are provided as well as setting strategy, policy and making decisions. 

Publica is a unique place to work – we’re a local government organisation with a twist! Publica wants to transform the way local services are delivered. To help do this we have started to fundamentally rethink the way we design our services in the digital era so that Publica is a customer focused organisation driven by real user needs.

This is a new role which will cover West Oxfordshire. Within the District, there are plenty of places to see and visit whether you love hiking or cycling. With our agile working ethos: you will be spoilt for choice. 

You will need…

• Demonstrable specialist expertise in subject areas listed.
• Experience of working in a similar position or capacity - this does not necessarily need to be within a previous role in Planning.
• A qualification in your area of expertise, equivalent to a degree or relevant experience of five years
  

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.

Special Conditions…

• Use of a car for work purposes

If you wish to have an informal discussion about this role, please contact Ness Scott on Vanessa.Scott@publicagroup.uk.

Please follow the link to see our great benefits: Benefits

Closing date for CV’s: This will be a rolling advert with interviews set up with at least one weeks’ notice
Interview Date: via video conference on request

Please note that we are receiving high levels of applications and we may close this advert before the advertised closing date.

If you feel this is the role for you please email your CV and supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria above by clicking HERE. Alternatively, please email us at join-us@publicagroup.uk  or contact the recruitment team on 01285 623079/70

Your application will not be considered if you have not provided a supporting statement, in addition to your CV.

Please note that if you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date shown on the advert, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references;  proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.