Lincolnshire Wolds Landscape and Planning Officer
The Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service is looking to appoint a full-time Landscape and Planning Officer who will work to ensure that forward planning and subsequent development is delivered in a way that conserves and enhances the natural beauty of this nationally important landscape. This is an exciting new staffing position, initially as a fixed term contract (for two years) but with potential for us to secure as a permanent position.
About the role
The Landscape and Planning Officer will be involved in a wide range of pro-active spatial planning matters, as well as responding to a varied development management caseload. A key role will be working to safeguard the primary aim of landscape protection across the Lincolnshire Wolds, https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/ whilst recognising the area’s importance in the context of a living and working farmed landscape. This typically involves reviewing and positively influencing the many issues impacting upon the area, including housing, transport, mineral extraction, renewable energy, nature recovery and climate change adaptation.
There will be an opportunity to help address strategic planning matters through positive engagement with the statutory Lincolnshire Wolds Management Plan; working with partners to aid its forthcoming review to help set out the aspirations, policies and actions to help safeguard and enhance the unique and special qualities of this National Landscape which has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1973, and covers some 558 km sq.
About the team
This is a new role within the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service (LWCS), which is hosted within the Lincolnshire County Council’s Environment Team, with its office in the Navigation Warehouse in Louth. You will be the fifth member of a core team of Wolds staff, working alongside colleagues from the Lincolnshire Wolds Farming in Protected Landscapes programme and the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project team.
About you
The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree (preferably RTPI-accredited), three years’ planning experience, and strong communication skills for engaging with stakeholders. Essential skills include report preparation, experience with protected landscapes, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. Positive relationship-building and equality awareness are also key.
The role offers flexible working arrangements, allowing for a hybrid approach that combines both remote and office-based work. Some evening working and occasional weekend working may be required, alongside the need to hold a full driving licence to attend meetings and undertake site visits across the Wolds as required. An additional shared works pick-up vehicle is available to staff members on a booking system, to help aid any field visits in remoter locations, requiring access via farm tracks.
About Our Offer
Along with a competitive salary we are offering:
- A Contributory pension
- Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work
- Flexible working policies
- Career progression opportunities
- A generous annual leave entitlement plus the option to buy more
Further details can be found here: Rewards and benefits – Lincolnshire County Council
If this sounds like the role for you, then please read through the full Job Description, before clicking apply! If you would like to know more about Lincolnshire County Council and our current vacancies then click on over to www.lincolnshire.gov.uk.
PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your covering letter/personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.
Applications will close on 18/11/24 and interviews will take place WC 09/12/24
For a confidential and informal discussion about the role please contact:
Stephen Jack via email stephen.jack@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Best of luck with your application
A Smarter Working Employer
We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary. Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.
Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.
Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.
All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.
On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward.
We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.
Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.