Place Design Lead, 2 High Street, Perth - PKC14247

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

This is an exciting new opportunity to help shape the future of Perth and Kinross through design led placemaking, regeneration and sustainable growth. As Place Design Lead, you will play a central role in creating high-quality, distinctive and resilient places across Perth city centre, our towns, rural communities and strategic growth locations. You will lead the development and implementation of strategic place frameworks, masterplans and regeneration initiatives, ensuring that placemaking principles are embedded across policy, project delivery and investment decisions.

Working at the heart of the Council's place agenda, you will provide authoritative urban design and placemaking advice on major planning applications, regeneration proposals and capital projects, helping to shape development that delivers lasting economic, environmental and community benefits. You will work collaboratively with colleagues, developers, public agencies, communities and external partners to champion design quality, influence decision-making and turn ambitious ideas into deliverable projects.

This role offers a rare opportunity to combine strategic influence with project delivery, supporting some of the most significant place based interventions across Perth and Kinross while helping to create vibrant, sustainable and inclusive places for current and future generations.

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious placemaking professional with a strong background in urban design, regeneration, master-planning or a related discipline. You will have experience of developing and implementing place-based strategies, frameworks and plans, together with the ability to provide clear professional advice on complex development, regeneration and investment proposals. You will be comfortable working across multidisciplinary environments, balancing design quality, deliverability and stakeholder priorities to achieve successful outcomes.

A skilled communicator and relationship builder, you will be able to influence a wide range of stakeholders and build productive partnerships across the public, private and community sectors. Above all, you will bring enthusiasm, creativity and a commitment to delivering exceptional places that contribute to the long-term success of Perth and Kinross.

You must have a valid UK driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree (or equivalent professional qualification) in a relevant built environment discipline such as Urban Design, Architecture, Planning, Landscape Architecture or a related field.
• Significant professional experience at a senior level in urban design, placemaking, regeneration, master-planning or a related discipline.
• Membership of, or eligibility for membership of, a relevant professional body such as the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Landscape Institute (LI), or equivalent professional organisation is desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Advanced professional knowledge of urban design, placemaking and regeneration.
• Ability to develop, implement and review strategies, frameworks, masterplans and place-based plans.
• Strong understanding of relevant planning, design and placemaking policy, guidance and best practice, including NPF4, the Place Principle, Creating Places and Designing Streets.
• Ability to analyse complex spatial, design and regeneration challenges and develop practical, deliverable solutions.
• Experience of providing professional advice and guidance on major planning applications, regeneration proposals and capital projects.
• Ability to lead and influence multidisciplinary teams, stakeholders and partners to achieve shared outcomes.
• Experience of managing consultants, procurement processes and project budgets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across public, private and community sectors.
• Strong project and programme management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes across multiple workstreams.

Behaviours:

• Demonstrates initiative, leadership and accountability.
• Leads by example and supports collaborative working.
• Proactively addresses climate change and sustainability.
• Committed to learning, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Focused on customer experience and community outcomes.

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. 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 with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

All new employees have a four-month probationary period. Further details are available in the FAQs at “How to apply for a job or apprenticeship with us”.

Next Steps: We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Alan Farnington on 01738 475806 to find out more.

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

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. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check. 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. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.