At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Council's Heritage & Place services, focusing on urban design and environmental advice.
- Company: North Northamptonshire Council, dedicated to transforming local communities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Join a vibrant team with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape high-quality places and make a real impact in your community.
- Qualifications: Degree in urban design and experience in environmental specialisms required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
To provide leadership for the Council's Heritage & Place services, overseeing the operational delivery of specialist functions including conservation, archaeology, urban design, and landscape. You should be proficient in particular on matters of Urban Design. Working in partnership with the Head of Policy & Placemaking, the role supports the development and delivery of strategies that transform the Heritage & Place services, ensuring they are high performing, cost effective, and responsive to local needs, and contribute to the creation of high quality places across North Northamptonshire.
The role will be key in shaping and delivering plans, strategies and projects that transform and strengthen service delivery. You will also oversee the support given in providing expert environmental advice in determining planning applications. Through strong partnership working across the Council and with external stakeholders, you will ensure the delivery of a high performing, cost effective, and resilient service that meets local needs and helps create high quality places across North Northamptonshire. You will also ensure the team supports the processing of planning applications through the provision of expert environmental advice.
Our benefits
Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we're transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!
Why choose us?
- A vibrant working environment
- A competitive salary
- A pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- Lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- Generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
- A range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
What will you be doing?
- Lead the day to day delivery of the Council's Heritage & Place Service, ensuring compliance, performance, and value for money.
- Provide professional input into policy development and advice on planning applications, including Minerals & Waste Planning.
- Provide direct advice and oversight on matters of urban design.
- Support the transformation and continuous improvement of Heritage & Place services, including digitalisation and efficient service delivery.
- Provide expert technical advice and represent the Council at committees, public inquiries, examinations, and external meetings.
- Lead and support special projects and collaborative working across the Council and with external partners.
- Deputise for the Head of Policy & Placemaking as required and contribute to strong governance, customer service, and accountability.
About you
For this role you will require:
- A relevant degree or equivalent qualification in urban design to allow access to membership of a recognised professional organisation.
- Membership of the professional organisation in which they are trained, or demonstration of eligibility for full membership.
- Extensive knowledge of the environmental specialism in which they are trained i.e. urban design.
- Knowledge of the English planning system, including legislation, the National Planning Policy Framework and best practice advice.
- Demonstration of a track record of projects in an environmental specialism; or supporting and overseeing the work of others to deliver on a range of planning proposals within local authority.
- Knowledge and understanding of key operational issues affecting environmental specialisms both nationally and locally.
- Significant experience of engaging with developers, stakeholders, Councillors and members of the public on environmental specialisms and planning matters.
Lead Officer - Heritage and Place employer: North Northamptonshire Council
North Northamptonshire Council is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant working environment that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a competitive salary, generous leave entitlement, and flexible working arrangements, we empower our staff to thrive while making a meaningful impact on the community through our Heritage & Place services. Join us in shaping high-quality places across North Northamptonshire, where your expertise in urban design will be valued and supported.
Contact Detail:
North Northamptonshire Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Officer - Heritage and Place
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the heritage and urban design sectors. Attend local events, workshops, or even online webinars. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio that highlights your projects in urban design and environmental specialisms. This will not only demonstrate your skills but also give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to appear. Reach out directly to the Council or organisations you’re interested in. Express your enthusiasm for their work and ask if they have any upcoming opportunities. It shows initiative and can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got a range of roles that might surprise you. Make sure to tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the Council's goals in transforming Heritage & Place services. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Officer - Heritage and Place
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Officer role. Highlight your experience in urban design and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at North Northamptonshire Council!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading the Heritage & Place services, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and drive change!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your achievements stand out. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make it easy for us to see why you're the right fit!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our official website! This ensures that we receive all your details correctly and helps us process your application smoothly. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at North Northamptonshire Council
✨Know Your Urban Design Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your urban design knowledge before the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific projects you've worked on and how they relate to the role. This will show that you not only understand the theory but also have practical experience.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Officer, you'll need to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Think of examples where you've successfully led a team or project, especially in the context of heritage and place services. Highlight how you can inspire and motivate others to achieve high performance.
✨Understand Local Needs and Challenges
Familiarise yourself with the local context of North Northamptonshire. Research current challenges and opportunities in the area regarding heritage and urban design. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to creating high-quality places that meet local needs.
✨Prepare for Partnership Working
Collaboration is key in this role. Be ready to discuss your experience working with various stakeholders, including developers, Councillors, and the public. Share examples of how you've successfully navigated partnerships to deliver effective outcomes in previous roles.
