Senior Design and Conservation Officer

The Oxford Street Development Corporation is an organisation dedicated to shaping the future of one of London’s most iconic places. The OSDC leads the long‑term regeneration and transformation of Oxford Street and its surrounding area, delivering a world‑class public realm and safer, cleaner streets while supporting high‑quality development, culture and economic activity that keeps the area thriving.

OSDC is establishing a new planning service for one of Central London’s most significant and high‑profile locations. As Senior Design and Conservation Officer you will lead the embedding of a design‑led approach across OSDC’s planning function, providing specialist advice on urban design, architecture, heritage, conservation, townscape and public realm matters. You will support high‑quality outcomes across pre‑application discussions, planning applications, enforcement matters, policy development and the preparation of design briefs and guidance. This key role helps OSDC to establish itself as a design‑led Local Planning Authority, ensuring that growth and investment are matched by excellence in architecture, heritage, public realm, accessibility and placemaking.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on design, heritage, conservation, townscape and public realm matters across OSDC’s planning service.
• Provide specialist design and conservation advice on pre‑application enquiries, planning applications, listed building matters, enforcement cases and emerging policy work.
• Prepare, commission or contribute to design briefs, development frameworks, site guidance and other design‑led material to support high‑quality development across the OSDC area.
• Support the operation of OSDC’s Planning Quality Review Group and related design review processes, including preparing briefs, reviewing material, advising officers and ensuring recommendations are followed through.
• Assess proposals for their impact on design quality, heritage significance, setting, townscape, public realm, accessibility, sustainability and placemaking outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with applicants, agents, design teams, Historic England, local authorities, amenity societies, community groups and other stakeholders to secure positive and deliverable design outcomes.
• Provide clear design and heritage advice to officers, senior management, members and Planning Committee where required.
• Contribute to the preparation of the OSDC Local Plan, design policies, guidance, characterisation work and wider service improvement.

Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• Degree level qualification in architecture, urban design, conservation, planning, built environment, historic environment or another relevant discipline.
• Membership or eligibility for membership of a relevant professional body such as RIBA, RTPI, IHBC, Urban Design Group, Design Council Expert Network or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience of providing design and/or conservation advice on complex planning applications, pre‑application proposals, listed building matters, design briefs, development frameworks or planning guidance.
• Experience of managing a caseload of heritage related planning applications, including listed building applications and associated consents.
• Strong understanding of heritage legislation, planning policy, architectural history and statutory development management processes.
• Good understanding of planning legislation, heritage legislation, national and London planning policy, design policy and statutory development management processes.
• Strong communication, analytical and negotiation skills, with the ability to balance design quality, heritage significance, regeneration objectives, deliverability and public value.

Communicating and Influencing

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication.
• Influences others and gains buy‑in using compelling, well‑thought‑through arguments.
• Negotiates effectively to deliver OSDC priorities.
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement.
• Advocates positively for the OSDC both within and outside the organisation.

Building and Managing Relationships

• Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support OSDC objectives.
• Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities.
• Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict.
• Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect.
• Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership.

Decision Making

• Takes decisions as necessary on the basis of the information available.
• Makes decisions without unnecessarily referring to others.
• Involves and consults internal and external stakeholders early in decisions that impact them.
• Identifies potential barriers to decision‑making and initiates action to move a situation forward.
• Demonstrates awareness of the OSDC’s decision‑making processes and how to use them.

Planning and Organising

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables.
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones.
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work.
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard.
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met.

Location

This role is based at 19‑23 Wells Street, London W1T 3PQ with an expectation of hybrid working in the office 2‑3 days a week.

Benefits

OSDC staff work hybrid up to three days a week. In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks and benefit from 30 days’ annual leave, an interest‑free season ticket loan, an interest‑free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Security Screening

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check; some roles may require additional security screening.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London’s diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part‑time work as this role is open to job share. We are a Disability Confident Employer so candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria will automatically be invited to interview. If candidates require adjustments through the process we will accommodate as much as possible.

Competency Framework Reference

GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.