Landscape Architect - Planning in Perth

Perth and Kinross Council is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and practical Landscape Architect to join our small and busy Policy & Projects Team in the Community Greenspace (CG) section. This full-time post is based in Perth, a vibrant small city and main gateway to the Scottish Highlands; and is a unique opportunity to work within some of the most stunning landscapes in the UK.

As a team, we are currently involved in delivering public-realm improvements, park and play area upgrades, countryside park master planning and management plan development, along with core path work and rural access projects such as route implementation and bridge installations. The team is dedicated to delivering quality greenspace projects which meet community needs, are appropriate in character to their setting and of good value to the public purse.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver and manage community greenspace projects as part of a team from early consultation stages through sketch design, to tender and procurement, contract administration and delivery on the ground, to completion and handover.
• Participate in reviews of practices and procedures and assist in the preparation and completion of Team Plans, Business Management and Improvement Plans and other appropriate policy documents.
• Take part in team briefings, project review meetings and presentations and provide oral and written reports as necessary.
• Deputise for the Senior Greenspace Officer (Policy & Projects) in his/her absence.
• Co-operate with CG Communities staff for community consultations and with CG Infrastructure staff to ensure projects are sustainably designed and properly handed over for maintenance purposes.
• Represent CG at meetings with other services, outside bodies and community representatives and draft Committee Reports, Best Value Reviews, Business Cases and other necessary documents within agreed timescales.
• Respond in a timely manner to MSP, MP and Councillor queries and public service requests and complaints and provide specialist landscape advice on planning applications.
• Help ensure that the Councils Scheme of Administration, Financial Guidelines, the Services Safe Working Practices, Quality Manual and Procedures are implemented at all times.

The suitable applicant will be an experienced Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute who can design, procure, implement and deliver a variety of projects which meet customer satisfaction levels within budget, fees and timescale. You will be skilled in AutoCAD and have a good knowledge of Microsoft Office software. You will be able to identify and initiate projects and prepare briefs detailing scope of works and fee recharges, prepare cost estimates and quotations, and monitor and report on budgets to ensure allocated resources are used effectively, in line with Council procedures and accounting periods.

You will have extensive site experience and a full understanding of relevant project documentation, be fully acquainted with CDM Regulations and ensure all relevant Health and Safety standards and procedures are complied with. Experience of multi-disciplinary and external partnership work with other agencies and communities would be invaluable, and a good working knowledge of the relevant legislation and best practice from other statutory bodies such as SEPA and NatureScot would be very advantageous.

You must have a valid UK driving licence as this post requires you to travel to various locations across Perth and Kinross. You will also be required to attend site visits and community meetings, therefore a reasonable level of fitness is required.

A generous annual leave package includes approximately 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day. Eligibility to join our pension scheme and family-friendly policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering, and our Wellbeing Framework are also provided. We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. A healthy work-life balance is important to us, and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week, with arrangements for part-time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender-specific, we encourage applications from everyone who meets the job requirements. Many skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government. If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required.