Planning Advisor (Town and Country Planning) (Wessex and Devon & Cornwall) - 36168

Pre-Application advice,

You will work closely with colleagues in flood risk, water quality, contaminated land, biodiversity, and environmental management to manage and coordinate our expert advice. You will need to meet strict deadlines and targets under challenging work pressures. Alongside developing strong relationships with your Local Planning Authorities, you will also be working closely with developers and consultants, as well as having some engagement with water companies and government departments.

The successful candidate will need the ability to develop strong relationships, have excellent communication and customer service skills, and an awareness of the Government’s growth agenda, relevant planning systems, how the development industry in general operates as well as an understanding of Environment Agency objectives.

Incident response is central to our mission, everyone who joins us undertakes training and is expected to incident response, which could attract additional payments; full training is provided.

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies.

OR significant relevant planning experience, such as working in an EA Sustainable Places or consultee team, or for a developer, local planning authority, or another statutory consultee (e.g. NE, MMO, Historic England, Highways).

• A willingness to learn and enthusiasm for the environment and planning processes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to successfully engage with a range of audiences.
• Strong team ethic and ability to work independently.
• A proven ability to achieve results and proactively identify and solve problems.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Strong customer service, communication and relationship-building skills – both written and verbal.
• Excellent IT skills.

Desirable:

• Good understanding of our broad business and environmental activities.

Job Description

We’re seeking a motivated, confident and enthusiastic person to join a team that engages with a range of customers to promote sustainable growth and secure the best possible environmental outcomes.

If you are passionate about contributing to a more sustainable environment, then this is your chance to make a meaningful impact.

You will manage our engagement and relationship with a designated group of Local Planning Authorities, to advise and influence:

• Planning applications
• Pre-Application advice

You will work closely with colleagues in flood risk, water quality, contaminated land, biodiversity, and environmental management to manage and coordinate our expert advice. You will need to meet strict deadlines and targets under challenging work pressures. Alongside developing strong relationships with your Local Planning Authorities, you will also be working closely with developers and consultants, as well as having some engagement with water companies and government departments.

The successful candidate will need the ability to develop strong relationships, have excellent communication and customer service skills, and an awareness of the Government’s growth agenda, relevant planning systems, how the development industry in general operates as well as an understanding of Environment Agency objectives.

Incident response is central to our mission, everyone who joins us undertakes training and is expected to incident response, which could attract additional payments; full training is provided.

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies.

The team

Sustainable Places is a friendly and supportive team that work across departments to deliver EA2030 goals. We work closely with internal technical teams to evaluate environmental data, evidence and assessments and produce consolidated planning responses on behalf of the Environment Agency. Externally, we advise councils and developers to ensure development happens in the right way with the right environmental infrastructure to protect and enhance the environment.

Experience/skills Required

Essential:

• a degree in Town and Country Planning or a relevant discipline (e.g. Geography, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Geoscience, Ecology, Biology),

Desirable:

• Good understanding of our broad business and environmental activities.

Contact and additional information

You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.

You’ll have an EA Office base location that you would be expected to attend a minimum of one day per week.

For Wessex, this would be the Bridgwater office.

For Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, this would be either Bodmin or Exeter.

Please read the Candidate Pack for information.

Any queries, contact

Competence 1

Influences and Persuades Others

Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Question: In a Planning Advisor role, it is important you are able to influence others. Can you tell us about a time when you have needed to persuade someone round to your point of view? How did you do this?

More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.

Competence 2

Communicates Effectively

Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Question: A key part of this role will be communicating with customers. Please give an example of a time when you have had to tailor your communication style to a specific individual/situation

Competence 3

Achieves Results

Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results

Question: In Sustainable Places we set out to achieve environmental gains through the planning system. Please describe a situation when you have demonstrated your ability to prioritise and organise tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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