Principal Spatial Planner - Spatial Planning And Public Health in Winchester

Contract Type: Temporary until March 2028

Closing Date: 10 August 2026

Interview Date: 2 September 2026

The Role:

Working within the Public Health team as a Principal Spatial Planner, you’ll play a pivotal role at the intersection of spatial planning and public health. Alongside an existing Principal Spatial Planner, you’ll collaborate closely with planning, transport, and environment teams across the Council, as well as Local Planning Authorities. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape an emerging area of practice by embedding health and wellbeing into planning policy, place‑based projects, and major developments, helping to create healthier communities and reduce inequalities.

What you’ll do:

• Provide expert advice and proactive technical leadership on public health within spatial planning to internal teams, local authorities, developers, and multi‑agency partners.
• Support the spatial planning team in building a progressive vision and culture, helping colleagues maximise public health value in strategic planning and major projects alike.
• Contribute to the development of policies and guidance in line with national and local planning policy.
• Translate public health intelligence, including health inequalities, into spatial planning policy and proposals.
• Respond to Local Plans, major development planning applications and infrastructure projects from a public health perspective.
• Produce clear, quality‑assured reports and advice to support informed decision‑making across organisations.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders, influencing across sectors and disciplines, while managing competing priorities effectively.

What we’re looking for:

• Degree‑level qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field.
• Strong knowledge and experience in planning policy development and the development process in the local government context.
• Detailed understanding of planning policy, systems, and procedures.
• Excellent leadership, influencing, and interpersonal skills, with experience supporting strategic change.
• Ability to analyse complex data and translate insights into clear, actionable outcomes.
• Experience working collaboratively in a political or complex organisational environment and proven ability to build credibility and relationships across diverse professional groups.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the role, team and our values. The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

Be part of an innovative and growing area of work, shaping how health is embedded into planning and place‑making. Access excellent professional development opportunities, including pathways towards Public Health Practitioner registration and funded training. Work within a supportive, collaborative environment where your contributions are valued. Make a tangible difference to communities by improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities through your work. Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme - to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice. A competitive benefits package that includes generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date. Where possible, this role can be offered as a secondment. Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for this role.

Values Based Recruitment:

We are passionate about our values:

• Collaborative: Working together, combining talents and sharing resources to shape decisions and actions, and to maximise health outcomes.
• Equalities-driven: Reducing inequalities and promoting equity in all we do, so that no one is left behind as we strive for better health and wellbeing.
• Outcome focussed: Prioritising our work based on evidence, effectiveness and value for money to improve quality outcomes and prevent ill health.
• Sustainable: Being future‑focussed. Creating lasting change in local systems and communities. Developing our work through a climate change lens to achieve health and climate benefits.

We practice values‑based recruitment in Public Health and invite you to evidence how you demonstrate our values in your application. The interview for the role will also be values based and will explore how you will be able to contribute to these.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

For general enquiries, please contact care.careers@hants.gov.uk

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Sian Davies, Consultant in Public Health on sian.davies@hants.gov.uk or Warren Lever, Principal Spatial Planner on warren.lever@hants.gov.uk

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.