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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Planning
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About the job
Job summary
In this role you will be responsible for providing advice on environmental issues for work on major national infrastructure projects across all sectors of the economy and Town and Country Planning Act appeals work. Some of that advice will be based on the work you do reviewing documents such as environmental statements and Habitats Regulations Assessments but you will also be working with developers and other stakeholders through direct meetings and other forums. You will be expected to act as the environmental lead for national infrastructure projects assigned to you but you will also be a member of a close-knit and supportive team with a strong emphasis on professional development.
The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on peoples lives, the communities where they live and the economy.
We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.
For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please see the information pack attached. You can also view our careers page at Civil Service Careers
Job description
We are looking for people with an environmental planning background, who want to make real difference to the sustainable delivery of major development across the country. You will have experience in EIA with an interest in gaining experience in a decision-making organisation.
You are likely to be motivated and forward-thinking with an analytical mindset and an ability to communicate with a range of audiences to work in a busy, project-focussed environment.
You should be organised, able to work under pressure and deliver high-quality work at a fast pace.
Your role will include a variety of tasks such as EIA screening, scoping, working with GIS, and reviewing documents which are submitted as part of casework appeals and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
You will be able to co-ordinate, review work effectively. You will have an awareness of environmental assessment and regulation in a project context. With support, you will provide high quality responses to technical questions from applicants, Inspectors and colleagues. You will be working in a team with a strong culture of collaboration.
For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached.
Office Attendance
All of our office-based roles are contractually located at Temple Quay House in Bristol. We encourage office attendance to foster collaboration, conversation, group creativity and employee wellbeing. You will be expected to attend Temple Quay House at least 12 times a year. Depending on your role, you may be required to attend more often than 12 times a year either permanently or temporarily to ensure we deliver our services in the most efficient and effective way for our customers. If you would like to discuss our Office Attendance in more detail, please contact us at PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Degree or equivalent work experience in an appropriate environmental or land use discipline (e.g. environmental science, environmental impact assessment, archaeology, ecology, landscape, planning or engineering)
- Professional experience of applying the EIA Regulations, including contributing to producing, reviewing, or commenting on screening and scoping opinions.
- A high level of awareness of the wide ranging and complex environmental, social, and economic issues associated with infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrable verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write succinct reports to tight timescales.
- A track record of contributing to professional reports or assessments.
- Wide ranging level of awareness of consent regimes similar to that under the Planning Act 2008 (for example, processing of planning applications and appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act regime)
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of the Planning Act 2008
- Experience of preparing/reviewing Environmental Statements and Appropriate Assessments and HRA reports
- Knowledge of databases and processing of spatial data within Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Awareness of complex issues associated with infrastructure projects
Benefits
£9,645 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
- 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the Kings birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
- Generous family friendly policies.
- Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 10 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.
For full information see our Benefits information pack.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:
- A CV: The CV section is an opportunity for you to detail your career history. It should outline the jobs you have done, the length of time you were employed within each role and a brief description of your role, responsibilities and duties which demonstrate relevance to the role you are applying for against the essential criteria. You must type, or copy and paste into the text box called Employment History within the online application. You cannot attach a copy of your CV.
- A Personal Statement (1000words max): The personal statement allows you to outline your suitability for the role in more depth, expanding on your CV evidence. It is an opportunity for you to provide evidence against the essential criteria listed within the candidate pack on the Person Specification page and link your answers to the listed Success Profile elements we are also assessing against .
We will assess your application on the evidence you have provided against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements detailed in the Person Specification in the candidate pack.
In the event of a large number of applications, a lead sift may take place. The following point will be used as the lead criteria when shortlisting if this happens, and if you do not meet the minimum standard the rest of your application will not be assessed.
- Degree or equivalent work experience in an appropriate environmental or land use discipline (e.g. environmental science, environmental impact assessment, archaeology, ecology, landscape, planning or engineering)
All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, you will:
- Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
- Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength, experience and technical questions
- Successful candidates will be invited to complete a written test after the interview. The test is designed to assess ability to interpret environmental information and technical writing ability.
Candidates who are successful at shortlist stage will be sent full assessment requirements with their interview invitations.
Other Information
Shortlist Date: w/c 15th January 2024
Interview Date: w/c 29th January 2024 and w/c 5th February 2024
Interviews are currently being completed remotely using Microsoft Teams. We would like to reassure candidates that the virtual interview will not be recorded (or retained) within the Planning Inspectorate, other than usual interview protocol and in line with the Civil Service jobs Privacy notice.
We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.
The Planning Inspectorate is committed to finding the right person for the job. We recruit using Success Profiles and consider the criteria you will need to demonstrate to be successful for the role, by doing this we are pushing up performance, diversifying our workforce and creating an inclusive culture.
ID and Documents
If specific qualifications/memberships are essential for the role and you are successful, you will be asked to provide accurate scanned or photographed images of the qualifications/memberships that you listed on your application prior to your start date.
We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.
Disability Confident Interview scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.
To be considered for an interview under the scheme you must:
- have a disability defined by the Equality Act 2010
- provide evidence in your application that you meet the minimum criteria in the job description
- meet all of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential
While we will endeavour to provide you with all the appropriate information, you are the expert on your specific requirements so if you require any adjustments, you should consider the information provided about the assessment process in the candidate pack and then:
- Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. The earlier and more clearly you tell us what you need and why you need it, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate you in a timely fashion.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Helen Lancaster
- Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Head of HR, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/
