Planning Policy Trainee Ref: 14-24

Grade: 9 to 8 (career grade)
Salary: Starting salary £24,308 - £30,120 rising to a maximum of £35,942 (subject to successful exam passes & performance) pay award pending
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Place of Work: Dereham (remote-enabled)
Basis: Permanent

Would you like a job where what you do:

• Makes a difference to the people who live in Breckland, delivering new homes, jobs and infrastructure with a plan for the next 20 years
• Allows you to take the first step towards a career in planning, learning on the job with a busy planning policy team and undertaking a fully supported Town Planning MSc and progressing to Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Chartership
• Creates sustainable and vibrant communities across Breckland with an enhanced built and natural environment

We are seeking a Planning Policy Trainee to join our Planning Policy Team at Breckland District Council to work on the emerging Local Plan. The successful candidate will not only play a key role supporting the production of the emerging Local Plan but will also work with communities in the preparation of Neighbourhood Development Plans, along with other Development Plan and Supplementary Planning Documents.

This role offers a comprehensive training package with the opportunity to undertake a fully funded and supported Town Planning Masters Degree. Learning on the job with the planning policy team whilst undertaking your training and progressing to RTPI Chartership.

There is need for residential and economic growth in Breckland and the Local Plan needs to meet these development challenges and its supporting infrastructure. Central to this is regenerating and placemaking, building on heritage and culture, growing our businesses and enterprise base, investing in housing and infrastructure, improving sustainability and wellbeing and encouraging education attainment.

If you are interested in working with us to help meet the challenges that the growth and diversity of Breckland brings to preparing the Local Plan and other plan-making documents and activities, then this could be the job for you.

You will:

• Be part of a busy and vibrant planning policy team
• Contribute to the update of the of the Council's Local Plan
• Support the production of Neighbourhood Development Plans
• Be offered a fully funded and supported training package including a Town Planning MSc and progression to RTPI Chartership.

About you:

Collaborative - you look for ways to work in partnership and listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing your views and knowledge. You recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input.

Ambitious - you always ask yourself 'How could we do this better?', taking ownership of change and helping others to understand, adapt, implement, and embed it. You have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things.

Results-driven - you review your own performance and ask for feedback to learn and improve; you make sure you are clear on what you need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions. You keep to your promises and challenge yourself and others to deliver high-quality services.

Empowering- you show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo - acting on opportunities to generate income or reduce costs, embracing new technology and promoting digitalisation. You ask for help and support when needed, and take responsibility if things don't go well, learning from it for your own and for the organisation's development.

Supportive- You treat others as you would want to be treated yourself, ensuring that you are welcoming, friendly and approachable; you give time to colleagues who need help or support.

OK, I'm interested...but is it really the job for me?

As our Planning Policy Trainee, you will:

• Contribute to the update of the of the Council's Local Plan and production of individual documents within and informing the Local Plan to meet the milestones in the local development scheme, with experience and knowledge of National and Local planning policy.
• Support the preparation and review of studies or advisory services from external consultants. Experience of preparing scoping documents and managing projects is beneficial.
• Support the production of Neighbourhood Development Plans throughout the production process including new designations for Neighbourhood Areas. With knowledge of Neighbourhood Planning and relevant planning policy.
• Undertake consultation processes on development plan and other documents.
• Prepare and present reports to Committees, officer groups, public meetings / consultations and Inspectorate examinations.
• Provide support and advice to the development management team, on strategically important planning applications, enforcement and appeals.

Closing date: 9am Monday 8 July 2024