Senior Planner (Design and Conservation) Reference number: SC07110 Location: 160 Tooley Street, London Schedule: Full-time Salary Range: (Full time equivalent) - £48,618 - £55,710 Contract Type: Fixed Term The role Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative setting and are passionate about urban design and conservation? We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Planner to make a lasting impact in one of London’s most vibrant areas. In this role, you will lead on complex planning matters, using your expertise in urban design and conservation to provide high-quality advice and drive key planning decisions. This role places you at the heart of our borough's growth, ensuring that development aligns with our vision of a vibrant and sustainable Southwark, balancing innovation with respect for its rich heritage. As a Senior Planner, you'll manage significant projects, including area character studies, design coding initiatives, and heritage-led schemes, such as Southwark’s Heritage at Risk programme. Your responsibilities will extend to policy creation, research commissioning, and offering specialist guidance at formal meetings and planning committees. By collaborating with diverse stakeholders, from community groups to developers, you'll work to resolve conflicts and secure outcomes that enhance Southwark's built environment. Your work will also involve advising on strategic regeneration projects and leading conservation efforts that protect and celebrate the borough’s historical assets. With a focus on delivering excellence, you will champion innovation and continuous improvement within the planning service, adopting new technologies and methodologies to maintain Southwark's status as a forward-thinking council. Key responsibilities: Provide expert design and conservation advice to influence planning decisions and develop robust policies and guidance. Lead a professional planning team, delivering high-quality outcomes across diverse and complex projects. Manage urban design and heritage programmes, including character studies, conservation appraisals, and Southwark’s Heritage at Risk Register. Oversee planning decisions and policy development, advising at formal meetings and engaging with stakeholders. Drive innovation and service improvement, integrating digital tools and creative solutions for efficient planning. Negotiate with developers, landowners, and community groups to resolve conflicts and uphold Southwark’s design and conservation standards. How will you make an impact as our Senior Planner? A degree in town planning, architecture, urban design, or building conservation. Strong knowledge of planning laws, urban design principles, and conservation policies. Significant experience delivering design codes, character studies, and heritage projects. Proven ability to manage complex urban planning projects effectively. Skilled at writing clear reports and presenting to committees and stakeholders. Experience negotiating development proposals and delivering positive outcomes. Leadership skills to support and guide a professional team. A commitment to high-quality planning and conservation in a dynamic urban setting. If you are ready to make a difference in one of London’s most dynamic boroughs, apply now and help build a fairer, greener and safer future for everyone in Southwark. Additional details Full Time, 36 hours per week. Please note this is a fixed term contract for 12 months. Any internal employees are encouraged to gain agreement from their substantive line manager if considering this as a secondment opportunity. About Southwark: We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises, and we have a young, diverse and growing population. At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest assets and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do. Benefits and more information: In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive: A competitive base salary (pro rata for part time staff). Strong supportive senior management team. Regular one-to-one supervision. Professional development & training opportunities. Clear career development pathways. Agile and flexible working arrangements. Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Season ticket and cycle loans. Annual Leave starting at 29 days per year, increasing to 37 (with length of service) (pro rata for part time staff). Wellbeing programme. HSF Health plan and eye care scheme. EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support. Social clubs and staff groups. Guaranteed Interview Scheme: As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the criteria below: Members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Are currently in care or have previously been in care. If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition. Recruitment timetable Closing Date: 6 January 2025 at 23:59. Interview Date: 21 January 2025. We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council. Attachments Click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification
