Job Description

Planning Aid England Advisor

LocationHome based with frequent travel across England

Reporting toSenior Planning Aid England Advisor

Job Purpose

A flexible role supporting all areas of Planning Aid England (PAE) services including: Planning Aid Direct (PAD) services, community planning, funded planning aid projects such as Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning (SCNP Project), volunteer training, supervision and administration, and business development. The proportion of time spent on each area of the PAE service will vary dependent on PAE priorities and funding arrangements and at the discretion of the Senior Planning Aid England Advisor or Director of Professional Standards.

Key Responsibilities

  1. To allocate, organise, co-ordinate and monitor volunteer activities in support of PAE activity including externally funded work such as the SCNP project.
  1. To establish and develop contacts with stakeholders, potential clients and communities and individuals interested in planning and in particular, disadvantaged and marginalised groups engaged in community planning, and raise awareness of PAE and the support which it can offer.
  1. Ensure volunteers are appropriately equipped to deliver planning support e.g. preparation and delivery of volunteer training.
  1. To produce a variety of professional materials about planning matters such as advice notes, content for the website and training materials for volunteers or other clients.
  1. To provide direct planning support when it is needed (e.g. fee-earning work).
  1. To represent PAE at external meetings and events as required e.g. meetings with partners, joint events and conferences.
  1. To work with colleagues to implement the volunteer plan including attracting, recruiting and operatingappropriate administration of volunteers.
  1. To seek opportunities for appropriatefunded projects and provide assistance with preparation of bids for work if required.
  1. To assist with the PAD services including providing, or facilitating, professional planning advice to members of the public who contact PAD either by telephone or by electronic enquiry.
  1. To undertake relevant administration work to ensure up to date records of volunteer activity and advice, accurate and timely reports on deliverables and efficient processing of volunteer expense claims.
  1. Undertake such other duties, commensurate with the post, as may be directed by the Senior Planning Advisor or Director of Professional Standards.

Person Specification

Applicants must be able to demonstrate the following attributes, skills and experience:

Essential

  • Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI).
  • Good up-to-dateknowledge of the English planning system.
  • Experience of a full range of planning matters including development management, plan making and the planning process.
  • Good knowledge of Neighbourhood Planning and the provisions contained within both the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 and other relevant legislation and policy.
  • Experience of liaising effectively with stakeholders both internally and externally
  • Experience of working with volunteers.
  • Knowledge of the needs of diverse groups and disadvantaged members of the community and the ability to deal sensitively with them.
  • Strong decision making and problem solving skills.
  • Good interpersonal and influencing skills.
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills.
  • Good IT skills including Microsoft Office and database management.
  • A positive and pro-active approach.
  • A customer focus.
  • Valid driving licence.

Desirable

  • Experience of community development work with hard to reach groups.
  • Experience of providing planning advice to the general public with a high degree of professional credibility.
  • Experience of financial and project management.
  • Experience of supervising volunteers.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities, and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

May 2013