Planning Officer - (P01-P03)

? To be responsible for the processing of Development Management matters within an area based or function based team including responsibility for the handling of pre-application advice, planning applications, appeals and enforcement including negotiations with developers and other interested parties, securing financial and other community benefits through legal agreements.

? To work in conjunction with the Area Team Leader in achieving timely, effective planning outcomes which uphold the Council's Core Values and meet the challenges of Best Value and Comprehensive Performance Assessment.

? To be accountable to the Area Team Leader for achieving agreed Service outcomes and personal appraisal targets.

? To ensure statutory and legal obligations are delivered and communicated in a customer focussed manner, optimising available resources.

? To provide advice and support to junior colleagues within the team as required.

? To deputise for the Area Team Leader as required (P03)

? To represent the Council as an expert spokesperson on issues related to their functional area of responsibility.(P03)

Council Key Accountabilities

Learning, Creativity and Judgement

? To develop his/her skills base to enable him/her to undertake a wider range of duties and tasks, and where necessary, carry out appropriate training and/or academic qualifications.

Management of People

? Support and advise more junior members of staff as required, ensuring they are adequately monitored and assisted to develop their skills.

? Take responsibility for ensuring a high level of performance both of the post holder and colleagues being supervised in accordance with the Council's Best Value ethos and for maintenance of team records necessary to measure performance.

Strategic thinking and planning

? Take responsibility for ensuring that advice given, applications progressed and recommendations made by junior team members have full and proper regard for the Council's planning policies, standards and relevant Government legislation and guidance.

Managing services and delivery

? In conjunction with the Area Team Leader put into practical operation the key objectives of the service and Council in relation to Development Management and related matters.

? To ensure that duties are carried out in accordance with the Council's policies and Code of Conduct, with full regard to the Council's Equal Opportunities Policy.

? Ensure that the administrative and technical procedures required to deal with tasks under the Planning Acts, Orders and Regulations, are carried out and work outcomes are of sufficiently high standard to comply with any systems in place to demonstrate quality.

? Take responsibility for undertaking such correspondence and discussions with the public and Council officers or other appropriate people as required for the determination of applications.

? Ensure that necessary and effective consultation and liaison to facilitate the effective involvement of local interest and statutory bodies and other Council services with regard to Development Management matters is carried out.

? Progress a range of planning applications including those which raise complex and diverse planning issues.

? Negotiate agreements under the Planning Acts as required.

? Represent the Council at Public Local Inquiries, Informal Hearings and Court Hearings as required.

? Undertake Planning enforcement work as necessary.

Communication

? Ensure effective and timely liaison with all members of the team, with other Service Units of the Council and external bodies and agencies, as required by working practice and policies. To attend public meetings, and other working meetings.

Managing projects and resources

? Use IT equipment to input data and analyse and extract information in connection with specific duties.

? Such other minor and non-recurring duties, appropriate to the post as may be directed.

Service Specific Accountabilities

? The Planning Officer (Development Management) will lead on ensuring that the work of the Unit is customer focussed, achieving appropriate changes and improvements within the context of CPA and Best Value reviews. (P03)

? The Planning Officer (Development Management) will be accountable to the Area Team Leader in their area for achieving agreed service outcomes and personal appraisal targets, and in addition to the specific duties in this job profile, will also undertake specialist diverse projects of a corporate nature and the implementation of innovative solutions.

? To be responsible for reviewing the quality of service taking into account statutory, legal, procedural and policy issues in order to ensure the continued achievement of the service objectives.(P03)

? To be responsible for benchmarking the services provided to ensure that the Planning Division is at the leading edge of service delivery to customers/clients.(P03)

? To undertake specialist research projects on behalf of the Division relevant to the functional area as required.(P03)

? To be responsible for preparing and presenting high level complex reports to members, chief officers, and outside bodies on behalf of the division.(P03)

? The post holder will be required to present information on behalf of the Council on issues relevant to the Service area.

? The Planner will carry out duties in accordance with the Council's equalities policies related to both staff management and service delivery.

Progression between Grade P01 and Grade P02 will be dependent on the level and complexity of the work carried out by the post holder and the extent to s/he leads on major/corporate projects as determined by the Head of Development Management.

Particular regard will be had to:

? High level of autonomy and productivity in processing planning applications and appeals.

? Level and range of complex applications dealt with and successful negotiations to secure community benefits

? Ability to demonstrate significant communication skills both orally and written to a diverse range of forums and groups.

? Ability to deputise for senior officers and supervise and motivate more junior staff

? Extensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance.

Progression between P02 and P03 will be dependent on the following additional criteria

? Ability to demonstrate contribution to the development of policies, programmes, systems, training or projects to address the changing demand of the service in accord with Best Practice.

? Effectively represent the Council as expert spokesperson on issues related to the function area.

? To effectively project manage complex applications achieving identified quality outcomes within agreed time periods taking the appropriate corrective management action as and when applicable.

This will be measured by performance appraisal and performance agreements. The performance management is the result of structured discussions and decisions made with the Area Team Leader.

The given component parts of the agreement are:

? Key areas of the job
? Key tasks of the year
? Performance measures
? Competency profile
? Personal development plan.

Management of People

? Ability to provide supervision, guidance and support to more junior staff. Short listing criteria

Communication

? Ability to write complex reports and a wide range of correspondence relating to Development Management and other planning issues.

? Ability to communicate effectively with service users e.g. negotiations, presenting evidence or advice in a public forum within Hackney's diverse community.

Managing Projects and Resources

? Ability to handle an extensive workload, including ability to act on own initiative, prioritise and meet strict deadlines. Short listing Criteria

? Ability to use new technology to assist in improving service delivery and personal performance.

? Ability to plan, manage and monitor projects and programmes of work, including the ability to act on ones own initiative to meet deadlines (P03)

Managing Services and Delivery

? Ability to contribute effectively to team working. Short Listing Criteria

Management of People / Leadership

? An understanding of performance management techniques (P03)

Knowledge

? A knowledge and ability to promote and implement equal opportunities in accordance with Council guidelines. Short listing Criteria

? Able to understand plans and drawing related to complex planning applications and projects.

? Knowledge and ability to operate IT systems and equipment.

? An extensive knowledge and understanding of planning legislation.

? Knowledge of planning issues as they affect the inner city.

? Knowledge of Best Value criteria. Short listing Criteria

? Experience of developing AND/OR implementing service improvements projecting including understanding of Best Value and other quality assurance systems (P03)

? Experience of ensuring the delivery of Planning Projects and or Development Management functions within agreed timescales and with quality outcomes.

Work related experience

? Experience of providing services to customers and being accountable for these services.

? Experience of a wide range of development control work, and the ability to deal with complex applications and/or projects.

Qualifications

? A relevant qualification in Town Planning or equivalent which supports membership of the RTPI or a postgraduate qualification in a related discipline combined with relevant experience in the field of development management and evidence of commitment to attain a necessary relevant qualification in Town Planning. Mandatory

? In depth post qualification experience in Planning of which a significant element relates to the Development Control process.

Circumstances

? Able and willing to attend meetings or undertake work outside normal working hours e.g. evening meetings.