Policy Research Manager

4 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Summary:

• To provide senior level planning expertise to deliver the council s planning functions in a customer focused and solutions led way creating the right conditions for accelerating highquality development and supporting sustainable growth in Swindon.
  
• To manage develop and deliver all aspects of statutory planning policy for Swindon Borough including planning for transformational strategic projects of a subregional scale the Borough wide Local Plan Infrastructure delivery plans Neighbourhood Plans Statements of Community Involvement Supplementary Planning Documents and a Local Development Scheme and to lead other corporate projects including decisionmaking that will impact on the built environment for decades to come.
  
• To provide justification and monitoring of Planning policy and guidance including the management and control of all resources required to undertake the projects and to prepare and present appropriate recommendations to policy making bodies examinations appeals and tribunals.
  To engage in joint working looking towards longer term development of the Swindon area including with Wiltshire Council local communities and other statutory consultees.
• Support the Chief Planning Officer (and deputise when required) to unlock planning barriers to support key regeneration projects transform the town centre and support the council s emerging new ways of localities working.
  

Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):

• Through the completion of your daytoday activities you will strive to position planning services as the growth engine to unlock activity that contributes to the local economy through the delivery of new housing and strategically important economic development initiatives including liaison with external agencies.
  
• Coordinate and manage external consultants partners and expert consultees who input into the service so that each organisation or group can do so in the most effective and costefficient manner and understands their roles and responsibilities.
  
• Develop and build progressive relationships with strategic delivery partners and local industries to achieve strategic objectives relating to placemaking and delivery of customerfocused value for money service solutions for all aspects of the service.
  
• Lead on analysis in relation to sub regional and local infrastructure housing and employment land supply and requirements.
  
• To manage and coordinate the preparation monitoring and review of the Development Plan including the delivery of a Local Plan for Swindon Borough infrastructure delivery plan Neighbourhood Development Plans Minerals and Waste Plans a Statement of Community Involvement and Supplementary Planning Guidance.
  
• Coordinate and deliver key projects required in the production of statutory planning documents for Swindon Borough and its neighbourhoods localities including the management of staff allocated to each project.
  
• Coordinate a policy input into strategic major planning applications as required and respond to Government consultations including draft planning legislation and guidance on behalf of the Local Authority.
  
• To ensure the coordinated longterm delivery of strategic infrastructure including green infrastructure built and natural environmental enhancement.
  
• The key accountabilities outlined above are intended as a general guide to the duties attached to the post and is not an inflexible specification. It may therefore be altered from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Service Area always in consultation with the post holder.
  
• To provide guidance to elected members enabling them to take strategic planning decisions in line with relevant legislation and the direction of the Local Plan.
  
• To be commercially aware and recognise the impacts of your daytoday work in unlocking and supporting development and the needs of development partners.
  
• Embedding and maintain rigour of key service performance indicators and planning outputs which exceed national and local targets.
  
• Through your visibility as a senior lead provide clear direction and a motivational and inspirational environment for teams and individuals to develop.
  
• To respond to queries from internal or external sources regarding policy issues relating to local and/or neighbourhood policies about individual sites including an assessment of development potential.
  
• To promote the Council s policies and procedures for good records management; ensure that all information related to the post and functional responsibilities is created maintained stored and retrieved in accordance with the Councils procedures and policies and legislative requirements.
  

Skills/Experience:

• Proven and demonstrable ability to develop and implement progressive planning policy to achieve successful outcomes within a Local Authority environment or private planning practice of the functions covered by the role.
  
• A thorough knowledge of UK planning legislation policy and guidance with an ability to apply this practically and progressively to deliver tangible planning gains.
  
• Experience of leading the preparation and review of key elements of Development Plans including the development of planning policy and the management and delivery of key projects at a senior level.
  
• Experience of managing and delivering complex projects.
  
• Experience of defending planning policy at Examinations Appeals and other tribunals.
  
• Experience of partnership working and developing synergies within the organisation.
  
• Experience of joint working with the community businesses andor other public private sector agencies.
  
• Must understand how planning operates within the wider corporate sphere of a Local Planning Authority and an ability to recognise benefits beyond pure planning outcomes.
  
• Experience of supporting decision makers including Councillors and statutory consultees and strategic partner organisations to achieve positive outcomes.
  
• Experience of working with existing new and emerging statute and using statutory processes innovatively to deliver proactive and good growth outcomes for our residents.
  
• Experience of contract management and major scheme delivery in a development context.
  

Additional Information:

• The closing date: 23/09/24 @17:00.
  
• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification with relevant recent experience addressing the requirements of the role. (Postgraduate MA or Diploma in Town Planning is desirable).
  
• Membership (or eligibility for membership) of the RTPI.
  
• Job Category: Housing & Planning.