Landscape & Green Infrastructure Specialist

Job Description

Job Category : Planning
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 18.50
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £30.34

We are an ambitious and dynamic Council with a major programme of residential development and a significant amount of open space and green infrastructure projects to deliver, including country parks, play spaces and allotments.

We require an experienced professional to provide a specialist development management service for landscape and green infrastructure including pre-application discussions, evaluating applications, scrutinising detailed schemes and overseeing delivery of new facilities.

This role is situated in the Placemaking Team within the Climate & Place Directorate and is the lead landscape specialist for the Council. It will provide a specialist development management service for landscape and green infrastructure including pre-application discussions, evaluating applications, scrutinising detailed schemes, providing expert witness advice in appeals and enforcement.

You will play a key role in the delivery of well-designed high quality open space for the benefit of local communities and the environment. We are looking for enthusiasm as well as a commitment to good design and the highest standards of landscape architecture detailing.

Accountability
Corporate
Responsibilities
Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, organisational policy,
and professional codes of conduct to uphold standards of best
practise.
Deliver the aims of the council’s equality, diversity and inclusion
policies; health, safety and wellbeing of self and others; and

ROLE DESCRIPTION
Organisational values in everything you do, ensuring team members
are also aware of their responsibilities and maintaining their
understanding that Equality and Diversity practice covers both
interaction with staff, service users and communities and includes
challenging discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for
all.

Qualifications
• Educated to postgraduate level in Landscape Architecture or equivalent – Essential
• Membership of the Landscape Institute – Desirable
•
Knowledge
• Able to prepare and review planning policy and guidance, including the Local Plan and
related Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents
(SPDs) Neighbourhood Plans and Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans
making recommendations and presenting to the relevant Council and public meetings as
necessary – Essential
• Knowledge of the democratic process – Desirable.
• Knowledge of changes in techniques, legislation and guidance including up to date CPD –
Desirable.
• Understanding and experience of project management methodology, processes, and
tools – Desirable.
• Working knowledge of the County of Somerset – Desirable.
Experience
• Proven track record in providing specialist knowledge in landscape planning – Essential
Experience of providing specialist landscape design advice on planning applications for
all major development and new green spaces – Essential ROLE DESCRIPTION
• Experience of involvement with Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment – Essential
• Proven track record within a similar role within local government or complex organisation
with understanding of the local government sector and its current challenges – Essential
Previous experience of planning workloads, establishing priorities and meeting deadlines
– Desirable.
• Experience of Appeals Process including informal hearings and Inquiries – Desirable..
• Proven track record in providing specialist landscape design advice on planning –
Desirable
• Dealing with Members, including reporting to committee/boards – Desirable.
• Experience of preparing and reviewing planning policy and guidance, including the Local
Plan and related Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning
Documents (SPDs) Neighbourhood Plans and Conservation Area Appraisals and
Management Plans including making recommendations and presenting to the relevant
Council and public meetings as necessary – Desirable.
• Extensive customer care experience and dealing with difficult customers/complainants –
Desirable.
Skills
• Excellent written, report writing and presentation skills – Essential
• Strong interpersonal skills when dealing with team members and colleagues, developers,
specialist consultants, as well as with the public and elected members – Essential
• Able to make applications for all major development and new green spaces – Desirable