Job Introduction
Come and join an award-winning Development Plans team working within an award-winning Planning service!
The team leads on the development of policy and strategy to help deliver a unique and ambitious vision for the future growth and prosperity of Milton Keynes. At the heart of this will be our New City Plan that will shape the growth of the city through to 2050 and help deliver many of the placemaking aims set out in our Strategy for 2050.
We are a friendly and supportive team, who work collegiately with other teams in the unitary authority, and with communities and stakeholders across the city. We work within a Planning service that won the 'Local Planning Authority of the Year' and 'Overall Winner' awards at the RTPI South East Awards 2023. We want an experienced and self-starting principal policy planner to join us to help continue this success and plan for growth that positively affects the people and environment of Milton Keynes. You'd be leading on high-profile and complex aspects of the New City Plan at a critical phase in our work, as we focus on preparing the draft New City Plan for consultation in mid-2024 following on from our Ambition and Objectives Consultation earlier this year.
If you take pride in your role as a planner who positively shapes places and are excited by the ambition and opportunity of Milton Keynes, then we want to hear from you.
Main Responsibility
- Lead on the development of planning policy for specific topic areas within the New City Plan throughout the plan-making process
- Project and contract manage technical evidence studies to inform planning policy
- Be an excellent communicator with our colleagues, members and other stakeholders
- Lead on and support a variety of engagement and consultation activities
- Support communities by providing advice on policy issues within emerging neighbourhood plans
- Manage, coach and mentor junior planning officers within the team
The Ideal Candidate
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A qualified policy planner with extensive experience of plan-making and the English planning system
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Someone who has successfully led high-profile and challenging projects delivering high quality outputs and outcomes
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An excellent communicator who can successfully engage with a range of people from different backgrounds to achieve successful outcomes
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Someone with a depth of knowledge and expertise in certain planning policy topics, for instance the natural environment and design
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes City Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, excellent pension scheme widely regarded as one of the best available.
- 28 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 32 days after 5 years.
- Holiday Purchase Scheme.
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Health Cashplan.
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- Blue Light Card - Employees working within Social Care can qualify for a range of discounts from national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more!
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles).
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs).
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements.
- Childcare Subsidy.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, welcoming, and expanding place, built on smart ideas with even bigger plans for the future. We have world class attractions, beautiful open spaces, and a great standard of living.
Milton Keynes City Council is one of the largest employers in the region, making a difference every day for local people. We’re responsible for all local government services in MK including education, housing, highways, and social services - around 240 services in all.
Our values are to be dedicated, respectful, and collaborative. If this sounds like you, join us for a stimulating and fulfilling career measured on results, and a rewarding work-life balance.
