Job Introduction
As one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, set within an historic and prosperous rural area, Milton Keynes is a fantastic place to develop your planning career or take it in a new direction, presenting a unique set of opportunities for planning professionals. At the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, and a focus for growth outside of London, our recently adopted Plan:MK with its healthy housing land supply, aims to deliver at least 26,500 new homes by 2031. The Council is also moving into the delivery and review phase of its recently adopted Minerals Local Plan. The Council is now working to deliver its ‘Strategy for 2050’ to grow the population to over 400,000 people and deliver associated economic growth, via the New City Plan to 2050. The Council also has ambitious plans to reach net zero carbon by 2030 and be carbon negative by 2050 with the role of waste and resource planning transforming how we look at and make use of waste and minerals.
In this new post, you will lead on the authorities’ delivery of its waste and minerals planning responsibilities across policy, development management and monitoring, acting with a high degree of autonomy and capacity to lead and innovate. You will also help support the wider team in preparing the ambitious New City Plan to 2050, which will integrate land use and waste policy into one Development Plan.
Main Responsibility
- Produce, review and update statutory Development Plan Documents and other planning policy documents related to Minerals and Waste plans using technical evidence, IT solutions, and consultation feedback to inform policy development. This also includes preparing responses to national, regional and local consultations and waste and minerals
- Support the planning policy and development management advice service on waste and minerals planning
- Project manage major/complex waste and minerals development proposals and planning cases from pre-application to completion (including planning appeals where necessary)
- Represent the Council at public meetings and forums externally, and corporate boards and groups, on waste and minerals development in Milton Keynes. This also includes organising and leading external consultation events
- Mentor and coach junior members of the Development Plans and Development Management team.
- Undertake site and monitoring visits of waste and minerals sites
The Ideal Candidate
- Extensive experience of either waste or minerals planning, in either a policy or a development management role
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent in planning or a related subject with a postgraduate (or equivalent) qualification in planning (RTPI accredited) enabling eligibility for RTPI membership
- Able to develop effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders, and ability to work in potentially confrontational or emotive situations with tact and understanding
- Able to work within a team and also to high degree of autonomy, managing their own workload to meet deadlines and produce high-quality outputs
- Excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 18.8%
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years. From April 2023 this will increase to 28, and 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, Apprenticeship Programmes (junior and senior), 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.
- 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 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.
