Senior Spatial Planning Officer

Fixed term for 12 months (maternity cover)

The role sits within our friendly and forward thinking Spatial Planning Team, which is within a growing team of exceptional individuals in our Policy and Strategy Directorate, and is responsible for the preparation of our innovative and pioneering Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of the national roll out of strategic planning, through playing a central role in progressing our emerging Liverpool City Region SDS to adoption. Our SDS will shape future development throughout the Liverpool City Region, with core goals of economic inclusion, social value, addressing health inequalities and meeting the challenge of climate change.

We work in partnership with our local authorities and stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors to develop the SDS.

We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Spatial Planning Officer who is passionate about strategic planning, has a track record of preparing sound, evidence based planning policy, can work collaboratively and has a clear ambition to deliver results that will have a positive impact on the Liverpool City Region.

The postholder will play a significant role in the production of the SDS and its associated activities, including developing a robust evidence base across a number of different technical areas, writing sound policies, community engagement activities, progressing the SDS through the examination process and working collaboratively with a wide range of colleagues, both internal and external.

You will have strong knowledge, experience, and understanding of planning policy and its associated processes, ideally at the strategic planning level. You will have a clear understanding of the opportunities (and challenges) that development of the SDS presents to the Liverpool City Region in delivering future growth and prosperity, as well as an understanding of the Liverpool City Region itself and the opportunities presented by devolution.

We want an exceptional individual with the ability to make a positive, meaningful impact on the development of our SDS, and who can work proactively, building strong relationships with stakeholders and our constituent local authorities.

You will be able to prepare key evidence, and undertake analysis, consultation and policy development for the SDS, and support other team members in these processes also. You will also recognise and support the links between the SDS and other areas of CA activity, including economic, housing, environmental, skills and investment policies. You will be politically aware with the ability to work at pace and have a track record of operating in a complex policy environment.

You will have excellent communication skills, and have a strong track record of collaborative working with a range of partners. You will also have experience of working in a changing national planning context, and understanding what this means for your work.

1) Knowledge of the key issues facing the Liverpool City Region

2) Experience of developing planning policy at a strategic level, as well as at Local Plan level

3) Good written and oral presentation skills with ability to present complex ideas in a clear and comprehensible way

The Liverpool City Region is world-famous for its history, culture and creativity. A place of firsts, it is the birthplace of modern railways, public health and international trade. Now, our economy is being transformed once again, changing the world through world-leading innovation in health and life sciences, digital and creative, and advanced manufacturing - growing an economy already worth £35 billion a year.

The Combined Authority plays a central role in catalysing this innovation-led economy. We are seizing the unique opportunity to use our devolved powers and funding to create wealth and prosperity for all our 1.6 million residents and the whole UK - investing in our economy, people, place, transport and digital infrastructure. Our vision is for the Liverpool City Region to be:
The best place to grow up, grow a family, and grow a business…