At Swindon Borough Council, we want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision in the new Swindon Plan is supported by realistic planning and regeneration programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that’s who we’re doing it for – the communities and businesses that make our town great.
As part of the Council, you’ll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It’s all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.
You will work within the council’s planning functions in a customer focused and solutions led way creating the right conditions for accelerating high-quality development and supporting sustainable growth in Swindon.
Building trust with residents ensuring that planning services meet resident needs and which actively support the delivery of the council’s inclusive economy and sustainability priorities.
Your next role
You will focus on either development management, planning policy or planning enforcement but work flexibly based on the operational needs of the service.
Through your manager, you will support the Chief Planning Officer to unlock planning barriers and provide the appropriate policy context to support growth and key regeneration priorities including transforming the town centre.
You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).
Key accountabilities
- Through the completion of your day-to-day activities, you will work to position planning services as the ‘growth engine’ to unlock activity which meets residents needs and contributes to the local economy.
- Engage with consultees who input into the planning service so that each organisation or group is able to do so in the most effective and cost efficient manner and understands their roles and responsibilities.
- Build progressive relationships with residents and local developers to achieve positive outcomes relating to place-making, and delivery of customer-focused value for money service solutions for all aspects of the service.
- To determine minor planning applications, undertake smaller planning projects and to deal with proposals for policy creation and/or development, and (with support of senior officers) to provide feedback on such proposals to improve the quality of development and delivery of infrastructure in Swindon.
- Portray the cultures, behaviours and shared values that make the Council successful through your daily activities and create an effective and efficient working environment to deliver Council priorities and pledges.
Knowledge & experience
Candidates must have substantial knowledge and experience in the following areas of business and will be required to provide evidence of this:
- A basic awareness of the roles and responsibilities of Swindon Borough Council
- Computer literate in word processing, database, spreadsheet and presentation packages is essential (required for day to day undertakings of the job), and experience of GIS preferable.
- Ability to read plans and assess three dimensional proposals presented in two dimensional formats.
- Ability to present information through strong report writing skills and including oral presentations. Experience of undertaking research and presenting outcomes is desirable
Your next package
As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.
For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.
Your next steps
Read the role profile and to apply please send your CV and cover letter to resourcing@swindon.gov.uk quoting the ref number 218 outlining your skills and experience.
Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion regarding the position, the organisation and the team structure, please contact Richard Bell, Director of Strategic Development, email rbell@swindon.gov.uk
As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion
