TECHNICAL/PLANNING OFFICER CAREER GRADE STRUCTURE AND CRITERIA

Transcription

1 TECHNICAL/PLANNING OFFICER CAREER GRADE STRUCTURE AND CRITERIA This is a career graded post where progression is dependent on the following criteria: The attainment of relevant qualifications. Achievement of the necessary experience required. Achievement of the necessary competencies required. There is an organisational requirement/need at the next highest level. There is budgetary provision available. Progression is not dependent solely on the attainment of qualifications and experience/competencies that can be found in individual job descriptions. The organisational requirement and budgetary provision available equally applies. Usually staff recruited will be placed at the lowest level unless their qualifications, competencies and experience dictate they may be recruited at a higher level. The latter only applies if there were no suitable internal applicants eligible for progression. The appraisal system and personal development plan will be used to record employees performance, achievements and the identification of any training and development needs. This should also be used to record whether employees are recommended or not for progression to the next level. Grade 4 and 5 will be suitable for candidates who are academically suited to the work. Some of the candidates will be willing to train to become fully competent planners. Also suited to staff who display competencies which are suitable to focussing on frontline technical/administrative work or dealing with a high volume of smaller and less complicated applications and/or routine and less complicated matters. Grade 6 and 7 will be suitable for well trained and experienced staff that are likely to be professionally qualified and/or capable of performing at a high level in a broad range of planning issues/applications generally with little supervision. 1

2 Job Description Job Reference Various Job Title Service Location Reports to Career Grade Planning Officer Development and Regeneration Shute End Team Leader/Principal Planning Officer Grade: Type of position: Hours per Week: Planning Officer: Grade 4 7 SCP Permanent/Temporary Full Time/Part Time Varies This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within the posts. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an inventory of all duties, responsibilities and outputs required of employees assigned to the role. Service Purpose The main purpose of the service is to protect and enhance the quality of the built and natural environment, and to ensure that new development contributes to the Council s vision of being a great place to live and an even better place to do business. This is achieved through providing the complete planning service required by a Unitary Authority to ensure high quality performance in the provision of an up to date policy framework and the processing of applications, appeals and enforcement. General Description of the job To develop the knowledge, experience and skills required to effectively deal with all aspects of the legislative and local planning processes to enable career progression and further specialisation. 2

3 Organisation Chart: Organisation Chart Development & Regeneration Delivery Programme Development Management Sustainable Places, Policy & Planning Town Centre Regeneration Community Sustainability Infrastructure Implementation Highway Development Control Planning Team Area 1 + Appeals Land Use & Transport Community Development & Partnerships Development Delivery Planning Team Area 2 + Enforcement Community Infrastructure Partnership Development Business Support Tees & Landscapes Community Engagement & Enforcement Project Teams that employ Career Graded Planners 3

4 Main RESPONSIBILITIES of the post The Career Graded Planning Officers will work in any one time in one of 3 teams dealing with either: Land Use and Transportation policies Processes of planning applications and related appeals and enforcement Negotiating the delivery of the Council s new and extended communities (Strategic Development Locations Dependent upon which team, this will include: 1 Maintaining high personal standard of professionalism and behaviours at all times. 2 Maintaining the efficient and effective execution of all regulatory and discretionary services and procedures whilst maintaining and enhancing the good reputation of the service and Council. 3 Validating and registering all planning and related applications and appeals 4 Evaluating and making recommendations on applications and appeals to the Council 5 Investigating, assessing, and making recommendations about planning enforcement and all associated legal processes. 6 Developing and maintaining land use related databases and assisting in the analysis and preparation of reports 7 Providing advice and information on planning issues to the public, developers, members, other Council Officers and other stakeholders 8 Representing the Council at Community Forums, Working Groups and Committees, etc., as required 9 Undertaking training and contributing to the implementation of new systems, guidance, practices and procedures to facilitate the continuous improvement of the service. 10 Engage with all relevant stakeholders and negotiate effectively on behalf of the Council to ensure the delivery of high quality infrastructure rich development. 11 Contributing to and preparing up to date and effective policy and guidance including Local Development Framework, Local Plans, and Supplementary Planning Document. Additional Corporate Responsibilities 1 Health and Safety: Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work; and co operate with the Council to enable the Council to perform or comply with its duties under statutory health and safety provisions. 4

5 2 Equal Opportunities: Take positive action to ensure a thorough understanding of and positive commitment to equality in both service delivery and employment practices. 3 Special Factors: Staff Essential car user with a clean driving licence. Ability to deal with potentially difficult customers with tact and diplomacy, firmness and fairness. Ability to negotiate with developers, company managers and their agents. Ability to make sound judgements on the basis of policy within tight timescales. Ensure that statutory and other targets for the processing of planning applications, appeals and enforcement cases are met without adversely affecting the quality of decisions made. Ability to carry out unaccompanied site visits, including to building sites, land with irregular characteristics and other potential hazards, and remote sites, in all weather conditions. Requirement to attend evening/weekend meetings (committees and other public meetings) as appropriate. Scope Number of employees within overall span of control None Financial Budget directly controlled (excluding salary costs) None 5

6 Behaviour Profile Grade 4: Planning Officer Core Personal Effectiveness Acts Analysis & Judgement Facilitates Impact Acts Interpersonal Acts Resilience Acts Customer & Community Acts Focus Joined Up Thinking Acts Respect Acts Person Specification Grade 4 Should focus here on describing the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience an individual will require to successfully undertake the role. These should be split between essential and desirable. There is no need to repeat behaviour requirements. Essential Desirable Qualifications Educated to A Level standard Willingness and ability to train for planning qualification Technical Skills. Demonstrable ability to interpret and assess plans Ability to communicate and build effective relationships with the Council s customers and other stakeholders Sound organisational skills Well developed written and verbal communication skills Ability to understand written and verbal information Ability to meet deadlines Undertake work independently using judgement as to when to seek assistance from colleagues and the Team Leader IT skills including Word, Outlook and PowerPoint Understanding of legislation, policies and guidelines and the ability to apply to planning and related applications, appeals and to development proposals Knowledge Knowledge of planning legislation and guidance Experience Experience of dealing with the public and organisations in an efficient, prompt, friendly and helpful manner 6

7 Behaviour Profile Grade 5: Planning Officer Core Personal Effectiveness Facilitates Analysis & Judgement Facilitates Impact Acts Interpersonal Acts Resilience Acts Customer & Community Facilitates Focus Joined Up Thinking Acts Respect Acts Person Specification Grade 5 Should focus here on describing the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience an individual will require to successfully undertake the role. These should be split between essential and desirable. There is no need to repeat behaviour requirements. Essential Desirable Qualifications Educated to degree standard. Degree in a related subject Willingness and ability to train for planning qualification Technical Skills. Demonstrable ability to interpret and assess plans Ability to communicate effectively with the Council s customers sometimes in difficult and confrontational situations Persuasion and negotiating skills to resolve competing issues Sound organisational skills Well developed written and presentational skills, including writing well constructed reports Ability to understand written and verbal information Ability to produce high quality work consistently and to meet deadlines. Understanding of legislation, policies and guidelines and the ability to apply to achieve quality solutions Undertake work independently using judgement as to when to seek assistance from colleagues and the Team Leader IT skills including Word, Outlook and PowerPoint Knowledge Knowledge of planning legislation and guidance Experience Experience of dealing with the public and organisations in an efficient, prompt, friendly and helpful manner Experience in an environment dealing with complaints or challenging customer enquiries 7

8 Behaviour Profile Grade 6: Planning Officer Core Personal Effectiveness Facilitates Analysis & Judgement Facilitates Impact Facilitates Interpersonal Facilitates Resilience Facilitates Customer & Community Facilitates Focus Joined Up Thinking Facilitates Respect Acts Person Specification Grade 6 Should focus here on describing the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience an individual will require to successfully undertake the role. These should be split between essential and desirable. There is no need to repeat behaviour requirements. Essential Desirable Qualifications Educated to degree standard Training for (or has) planning qualification. Working towards membership of Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Technical Skills. Demonstrable level of analytical skill to assess to interpret and assess complex plans and develop policy. Persuasion and negotiating skills to resolve competing issues Well developed organisational skills Highly developed written and presentational skills, including writing well constructed reports Ability to understand and interpret written and verbal information including those with some complexity Ability to produce high quality work consistently and to meet competing deadlines Understanding of legislation, policies and guidelines and the ability to apply these to achieve quality solutions Undertake work independently using judgement as to when to seek assistance from colleagues and the Team Leader IT skills including Word, Outlook and PowerPoint. Knowledge Detailed knowledge of planning legislation and guidance Experience Experience of dealing with the public and organisations in an efficient, prompt, friendly and helpful manner Experience in an environment dealing with complaints or challenging customer enquiries Some experience of planning or a related setting Experience of briefing members on planning recommendations 8

9 Behaviour Profile Grade 7: Planning Officer Core Personal Effectiveness Facilitates Analysis & Judgement Influences Impact Influences Interpersonal Influences Resilience Facilitates Customer & Community Facilitates Focus Joined Up Thinking Facilitates Respect Facilitates Person Specification Grade 7 Should focus here on describing the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience an individual will require to successfully undertake the role. These should be split between essential and desirable. There is no need to repeat behaviour requirements. Essential Desirable Qualifications Educated to degree standard. Has a planning qualification. Has, or is working towards membership of Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Technical Skills. Demonstrable level of analytical skill to assess to interpret and assess complex plans and develop policy. Persuasion and negotiating skills to resolve complex competing issues Highly developed organisational skills Highly developed written and presentational skills, including writing well constructed reports and effective verbal presentations Ability to understand complex written and verbal information Ability to produce high quality work consistently and to meet competing deadlines Highly developed understanding of legislation, policies and guidelines and the ability to apply these to achieve quality solutions Undertake work independently using judgement as to when to seek assistance from colleagues and the Team Leader IT skills including Word, Outlook and PowerPoint. Knowledge Detailed and in depth knowledge of planning legislation, policy and guidance Experience Experience of dealing with the public and organisations in an efficient, prompt, friendly and helpful manner Experience in an environment dealing with complaints or challenging customer enquiries Experience of planning (DM) or related discipline Experience of working in a political environment providing briefings to Members or Company Executive. 9

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