Policy Research Manager

4months contract with a LocalAuthority

JobSummary:

• Toprovide senior level planning expertise to deliver the council splanning functions in a customer focused and solutions led waycreating the right conditions for accelerating highqualitydevelopment and supporting sustainable growth inSwindon.
  
• Tomanage develop and deliver all aspects of statutory planning policyfor Swindon Borough including planning for transformationalstrategic projects of a subregional scale the Borough wide LocalPlan Infrastructure delivery plans Neighbourhood Plans Statementsof Community Involvement Supplementary Planning Documents and aLocal Development Scheme and to lead other corporate projectsincluding decisionmaking that will impact on the built environmentfor decades tocome.
  
• Toprovide justification and monitoring of Planning policy andguidance including the management and control of all resourcesrequired to undertake the projects and to prepare and presentappropriate recommendations to policy making bodies examinationsappeals and tribunals.
  To engage in joint workinglooking towards longer term development of the Swindon areaincluding with Wiltshire Council local communities and otherstatutoryconsultees.
• Supportthe Chief Planning Officer (and deputise when required) to unlockplanning barriers to support key regeneration projects transformthe town centre and support the council s emerging new ways oflocalitiesworking.
  

KeyDuties/Accountabilities(Sample):

• Throughthe completion of your daytoday activities you will strive toposition planning services as the growth engine to unlock activitythat contributes to the local economy through the delivery of newhousing and strategically important economic developmentinitiatives including liaison with externalagencies.
  
• Coordinateand manage external consultants partners and expert consultees whoinput into the service so that each organisation or group can do soin the most effective and costefficient manner and understandstheir roles and responsibilities.
  
• Developand build progressive relationships with strategic deliverypartners and local industries to achieve strategic objectivesrelating to placemaking and delivery of customerfocused value formoney service solutions for all aspects of theservice.
  
• Leadon analysis in relation to sub regional and local infrastructurehousing and employment land supply andrequirements.
  
• Tomanage and coordinate the preparation monitoring and review of theDevelopment Plan including the delivery of a Local Plan for SwindonBorough infrastructure delivery plan Neighbourhood DevelopmentPlans Minerals and Waste Plans a Statement of Community Involvementand Supplementary PlanningGuidance.
  
• Coordinateand deliver key projects required in the production of statutoryplanning documents for Swindon Borough and its neighbourhoodslocalities including the management of staff allocated to eachproject.
  
• Coordinatea policy input into strategic major planning applications asrequired and respond to Government consultations including draftplanning legislation and guidance on behalf of the Local Authority.
  
• To ensurethe coordinated longterm delivery of strategic infrastructureincluding green infrastructure built and natural environmentalenhancement.
  
• The keyaccountabilities outlined above are intended as a general guide tothe duties attached to the post and is not an inflexiblespecification. It may therefore be altered from time to time toreflect the changing needs of the Service Area always inconsultation with the postholder.
  
• Toprovide guidance to elected members enabling them to take strategicplanning decisions in line with relevant legislation and thedirection of the LocalPlan.
  
• To becommercially aware and recognise the impacts of your daytodaywork in unlocking and supporting development and theneeds of developmentpartners.
  
• Embeddingand maintain rigour of key service performance indicators andplanning outputs which exceed national and localtargets.
  
• Throughyour visibility as a senior lead provide clear direction and amotivational and inspirational environment for teams andindividuals todevelop.
  
• Torespond to queries from internal or external sources regardingpolicy issues relating to local and/or neighbourhood policies aboutindividual sites including an assessment of development potential.
  
• To promotethe Council s policies and procedures for good records management;ensure that all information related to the post and functionalresponsibilities is created maintained stored and retrieved inaccordance with the Councils procedures and policies andlegislativerequirements.
  

Skills/Experience:

• Provenand demonstrable ability to develop and implement progressiveplanning policy to achieve successful outcomes within a LocalAuthority environment or private planning practice of the functionscovered by therole.
  
• Athorough knowledge of UK planning legislation policy and guidancewith an ability to apply this practicallyand progressively to deliver tangible planninggains.
  
• Experienceof leading the preparation and review of key elements ofDevelopment Plans including the development of planning policy andthe management and delivery of key projects at a seniorlevel.
  
• Experienceof managing and delivering complexprojects.
  
• Experienceof defending planning policy at Examinations Appeals and othertribunals.
  
• Experienceof partnership working and developing synergies within theorganisation.
  
• Experienceof joint working with the community businesses andor other publicprivate sectoragencies.
  
• Mustunderstand how planning operates within the wider corporate sphereof a Local Planning Authority and an ability to recognise benefitsbeyond pure planningoutcomes.
  
• Experienceof supporting decision makers including Councillors and statutoryconsultees and strategic partner organisations to achieve positiveoutcomes.
  
• Experience ofworking with existing new and emerging statute and using statutoryprocesses innovatively to deliver proactive and good growthoutcomes for ourresidents.
  
• Experience ofcontract management and major scheme delivery in a developmentcontext.
  

AdditionalInformation:

• Theclosing date: 23/09/24@17:00.
  
• Educatedto degree level or equivalent qualification with relevant recentexperience addressing the requirements of the role. (PostgraduateMA or Diploma in Town Planning isdesirable).
  
• Membership(or eligibility for membership) of theRTPI.
  
• JobCategory: Housing &Planning.
  

Proven and demonstratable ability of developing and implementingprogressive planning policy to achieve successful outcomes within aLocal Authority environment or private planning practice of thefunctions covered by the role. A thorough knowledge of UK planninglegislation, policy and guidance with an ability to apply thispractically and progressively to deliver tangible planning gains.Experience of leading the preparation and review of key elements ofDevelopment Plans including the development of planning policy, andthe management and delivery of key projects at a senior level.Experience of managing and delivering complex projects. Experienceof defending planning policy at Examinations, Appeals and othertribunals. Experience of partnership working and developingsynergies within the organisation. Experience of joint working withthe community, businesses and\or other public \ private sectoragencies. Must understand how planning operates within the widercorporate sphere of a Local Planning Authority and an ability torecognise benefits beyond pure planning outcomes. Experience ofsupporting decision makers, including Councillors and statutoryconsultees and strategic partner organisations to achieve positiveoutcomes. Experience of working with existing, new and emergingstatute and using statutory processes innovatively to deliverproactive and good growth outcomes for our residents. Experience ofcontract management and major scheme delivery in a developmentcontext.