Planning Advisor and Graduate Planner

We have exciting opportunities in our Planning Team! We are looking for both a Planning Advisor and Graduate Planner.

As an organisation focused on ensuring an increased supply of much-needed high-quality new homes of all tenures across Scotland, planning is integral to achieving this goal.

If you want to make a positive impact on our society and work in a place where contribution, collaboration and career development are valued and encouraged, please take a look at what we have to offer!

Key details are below and full descriptions can be found on the Homes for Scotland website.

PLANNING ADVISOR JOB DESCRIPTION

The post holder will operate within the context of our strategy, values and operatingprocedures, as directed by the Senior Management Team and Board. Working as part ofthe HFS Planning Team you will carry out the following key duties and responsibilities:

Work on behalf of HFS and its members on local and regional planning mattersacross Scotland

Build and maintain ongoing dialogue with local authority planning services toinfluence/engage with policy and practice

Review and prepare responses to emerging new style Local Development Plansproviding advice to our members

Engage and work collaboratively with local authorities on their housing land audits,feeding in insights from home builder members

Engage and influence key stakeholders during the formation of Local HousingStrategies and Housing Need and Demand Assessments

Wider responsibilities:

Programme / manage local and regional casework

Assist with mentoring the planning graduate

Lead on / contribute to internal and external working groups as appropriate

Support the Director of Planning on national planning matters as required

Support the Director of Planning with external and internal stakeholder eventsincluding seminars, round table discussions, conferences etc.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

A passion for ensuring the planning system is fit for purpose to deliver the homes ofall tenures that Scotland needs

Post–qualification planning experience in any relevant fields (for example homebuilding, local authority, planning consultancy)

IT skills, including Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint)

Interpersonal skills plus ability to work on own initiative

Driving Licence holder with access to a car for business travel and willingness toattend occasional meetings outwith the central belt e.g. Aberdeen, Inverness.

Energy and enthusiasm

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Strong organisational skills

Skilled relationship builder and collaborative worker

Experience in writing minutes, briefings and reports

Desirable

Degree/Diploma in planning related topic

Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent e.g. RICS

Salary and benefits

This full-time position includes a competitive salary dependent upon experience, withemployer’s pension contributions, private life cover, health cash plan, health insurance and cycle to work schemes also offered. We operate a hybrid working policy, but would expect the successful candidate to work from the office at least 3 days per week.

To Apply

Please submit a covering letter and CV (each no longer than 2 sides of A4) to Director ofPlanning Kevin Murphy ( ) along with salaryexpectations.

Your covering letter should clearly demonstrate how you meet the person specification.

Closing date 15 August 2025. Interviews week beginning 8 September 2025.

PLANNING GRADUATE JOB DESCRIPTION

Managed and guided by the Director of Planning, you will assist on a broad range of interesting and important work suitable to an outstanding candidate straight from the point of graduation.

To perform successfully in this role, you will need to be confident and competent in the following areas:

Writing reports, taking notes of meeting discussions and helping compile and writedocuments.

Undertaking basic research and helping colleagues with a variety of scales of projects.

Managing small projects of your own to start with, with these increasing in complexity and size over time.

Forging and maintaining relationships with members, stakeholders and planning authority staff.

Attending meetings including Home Builder Committees, meetings with planningauthorities and with wider stakeholders, with team members and alone over time.

Providing some administrative support e.g. setting up meetings, assisting with office IT

Person specification – essential

Ability to work in line with our organisational values

Degree/Diploma in a relevant subject

IT skills, including Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint)

Interpersonal skills plus ability to work on own initiative

Confidence working with numbers, including ability to collect data/evidence and thenclearly report on the implications, both verbally and in writing

Energy and enthusiasm

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Strong organisational skills

Interest in the home building sector and its wider operational environment

Salary and benefits

This full-time position includes a competitive salary, with employer’s pension contributions, private life cover, health cash plan, health insurance and cycle to work schemes also offered.

We operate a flexible working policy, but would anticipate the successful candidate coming into the office at least 4 days per week initially.

To Apply

Please submit a covering letter and CV (each no longer than 2 sides of A4) to Director of Planning Kevin Murphy at Your covering letter should clearly demonstrate how you meet the person specification.

Please note that candidates invited for interview will be expected to prepare and deliver a short written report and presentation on a topic to be advised.

Closing date is 15 August 2025 with interviews anticipated week beginning 15 September 2025.

Start date to be agreed with the successful candidate.