Planning Policy Team Leader in Caernarfon

Cyngor Gwynedd is committed to being an inclusive employer and to enhancing the diversity of the workforce. An anonymous application form will be assessed; your title, name, email address, and personal details will not be shared with the appointing panel for shortlisting.

The role offers an opportunity for a professional, enthusiastic and committed individual as a Team Leader in Cyngor Gwynedd’s Planning Policy, Landscape and Nature Service. The successful candidate will lead the preparation of the Local Development Plan and ensure it meets statutory requirements and the social, economic and environmental needs of the communities in Gwynedd.

Personal Attributes

• Warm personality
• Eye for detail and accuracy
• Honest, self‑confident, assertive and flexible
• Able to take on responsibilities and to communicate effectively
• Able to work under pressure and as part of a team
• Able to inspire and manage staff effectively
• Committed to providing good customer service and always looking for ways to improve the service
• Individual who conveys enthusiasm for the work
• Holder of a clean and valid driving licence and use of a car

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Town and Country Planning or in a specialised subject relevant to the Service's field of work
• Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject
• Membership of the RTPI or RIBA or another relevant professional body or association

Experience

• Essential: Experience of working for at least five years in the planning policy field and leading the work in the process of preparing and implementing a Local Development Plan and Supplementary Planning Guidance
• Preparing evidence and participating in a public inspection for a Local Development Plan
• Providing briefings and commissioned work from consultants
• Preparing and presenting reports to committees and working groups
• Experience of managing staff
• Experience of working to tight timescales and under pressure
• Experience of collaborating with officers and elected members at all levels
• Desirable: Preparing evidence in a public inspection for a Local Development Plan
• Leading and contributing to improvements / changes in work arrangements and processes in the planning policy field
• Collaborating with the Welsh Government, councils, agencies and other bodies
• Leading and contributing to responses to public consultations by relevant bodies on issues relevant to planning
• Working in other planning fields such as Development Control and Enforcement
• Working in Local Government Financial Management
• Collaborating with partners on a regional and national level
• Experience of contributing to the process of monitoring and managing performance

Skills and Specialist Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant Planning Acts, Environmental Acts, Regulations and relevant policies
• Thorough understanding of work processes in the Policy Planning field and specifically the process of preparing and implementing a Local Development Plan
• Ability to interpret planning policies and guidance (local and national) clearly and firmly and provide policy guidance on development control and enforcement matters
• Strong communication skills – oral and written
• Relevant skills for preparing and presenting reports and the ability to collaborate effectively with people, agencies and outside bodies
• Understanding of urban and rural planning issues
• Understanding of Local Government working arrangements
• Ability to use computer packages
• Desirable: Understanding of the main objective of the AONB designation and the role of the AONB Management Plan
• Understanding of mineral and waste planning matters
• Knowledge of the area and the commitment to protect and improve the urban and rural environment
• Understanding of other various computer packages

Language Requirements

• Listening and Speaking – Higher: Able to follow a conversation or discussion through the medium of Welsh and English on a professional level and discuss general day to day topics in the field in order to present information and express opinions
• Reading and Understanding – Higher: Able to understand standard written Welsh and English, both formal and informal, and gather information from various sources such as letters, reports, articles through the medium of Welsh and English to fulfil the post
• Writing – Higher: Present written information confidently by letter, more detailed and technical report formats, and respond to written requests conveying information, ideas and opinion in Welsh and English

Job Description Purpose of the post

• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the centre of everything we do
• Lead the work of providing a Planning Policy Service and related duties for the Cyngor Gwynedd planning authority area

Responsibility for Functions

• Lead the Team to ensure that duties relating to planning policy, mineral and waste planning, and management of the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are carried out effectively
• Responsibility for the Team's financial resources
• Responsibility for personal computer equipment

Main Duties

• Lead the process of preparing a Local Development Plan for the Gwynedd planning authority area to ensure it complies with statutory requirements and addresses the needs of the communities socially, economically and environmentally towards the future.
• This includes leading, coordinating, preparing and presenting the evidence base for topic papers, documents and presentations for statutory public consultations, briefing sessions for elected members, and evidence for the public inspection.
• Lead and implement arrangements for collaboration with the Council's Communications Team to ensure an effective Communications Plan for the Local Development Plan process and the Service's work.
• Lead, coordinate and reconcile the Local Development Plan with strategies and other policy documents prepared or being prepared by the Council, neighbouring authorities, at regional and national levels.
• Lead the commissioning work of the Team and oversee consultants in preparing the Local Development Plan, identifying opportunities to commission joint work with other authorities where appropriate.
• After adopting the Local Development Plan, lead the process of monitoring, reviewing and revising the Plan.
• Lead the work of preparing a Supplementary Planning Guidance for the Local Development Plan after adoption.
• Lead the work of implementing procedures that feed into monitoring the Joint Local Development Plan (Gwynedd and Anglesey), ensuring an annual Joint Annual Monitoring Report (1 AMR) is prepared annually until adoption of the New Plan, in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Lead work monitoring the Supplementary Planning Guidance and any revised/new Supplementary Planning Guidance to support the current Joint Development Plan.
• Collaborate closely with the Planning Services and lead expert policy advice on proposals, planning applications and planning and enforcement appeals, including giving evidence, and ensure input from Planning Services to the Local Development Plan process and any Supplementary Planning Guidance.
• Lead and implement regular work arrangements to provide advice and specialist guidance on planning policy matters for Gwynedd Departments/Services, elected members and other customers.
• Lead on providing a response on behalf of Gwynedd to consultations by the Welsh Government and other relevant bodies.
• Lead and coordinate Gwynedd's input to the Corporate Joint Committee (North Wales) re: Strategic Development Plan, to ensure alignment with Gwynedd's priorities and needs.
• Lead work of developing, preparing, monitoring and reviewing the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan (AONB), promoting activities and actions to safeguard and enhance the AONB.
• Lead day‑to‑day work in the minerals and waste planning area, including specialist input on planning policy matters in the Local Development Plan, regional and national strategies, dealing with relevant planning applications, monitoring and enforcement work, planning advice and planning/enforcement appeals; part of the North Wales Planning, Mineral and Waste Service.
• Lead work of preparing and submitting reports to Cabinet, Leadership Team, Full Council, and any committee, sub‑committee, panel or forum associated with the Team's duties.
• Lead on projects and research that is high priority for the Council (e.g., second homes, short‑term holiday accommodation) and represent Gwynedd on project teams and meetings at county, cross‑county, regional and national levels related to the work.
• Manage and coordinate the Team's work programmes and budgets.
• Lead work of contributing to the development and implementation of objectives and policies in the Council's corporate strategies and plans.
• Lead work of contributing to cross‑departmental and cross‑county project teams to produce a Local Development Plan, related planning policy work and other duties of the Service.
• Delegate on behalf of the Planning Policy Manager on matters relating to the Service.
• Assist the Planning Policy Manager to ensure the Service's duties are carried out effectively.
• Professional responsibility for monitoring the development and performance of the Team's staff, preparing and implementing a training programme.
• Monitor the performance of the Team and contribute towards managing performance of the Service per the Council's corporate arrangements.
• Assist the Team to establish operational principles, considering relevant Acts (Health and Safety, Well‑being of Future Generations Act, Social Services and Well‑being Act, Data Protection Act) and ensure adherence.
• Responsible for self‑development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety regulations per the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council’s equal opportunities and equality policies.
• Responsible for managing information per the Council’s information management standards and guidelines, ensuring personal information is treated per Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions per the Carbon Management Plan and encouraging others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s carbon footprint.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
• Responsible for reporting any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
• Occasionally attend meetings outside normal working hours.