Senior Planning Advisor

The Forestry Commission is seeking an experienced and strategic planning professional to lead a newly established team dedicated to strengthening the role of trees and woodlands within the planning system. This is an exciting opportunity to influence planning policy and development decisions at national, regional and local levels, ensuring that the environmental, social and economic benefits of trees and woodlands are fully recognised as England delivers significant housing, infrastructure and economic growth.

Reporting to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure and the Built Environment, you will lead a team comprising five Area Planning Delivery Advisers and a Planning Coordinator, providing strategic direction, leadership and oversight across a diverse portfolio of planning and development activity. The team will coordinate the Forestry Commission's engagement with Spatial Development Strategies, Local Plans, Tree and Woodland Strategies, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), planning applications and other land-use change proposals, helping to secure positive outcomes for trees, woodlands and wider green infrastructure.

A key aspect of the role will be establishing and embedding this new function within the wider organisation. You will be responsible for setting priorities, developing capability, monitoring performance and driving continuous improvement, while ensuring strong alignment and effective collaboration with existing planning specialists and Area Team colleagues. Building a cohesive and integrated approach across both new and established roles will be critical to the team's success.

You will also lead the development of guidance, resources and processes that enhance the Forestry Commission's ability to fulfil its responsibilities for expanding, protecting, improving and connecting woodlands across the country, while ensuring a consistent and effective approach to planning engagement.

Working within the Planning, Infrastructure and Built Environment Team, you will collaborate closely with policy, infrastructure and operational colleagues, alongside a wide range of external stakeholders across the planning, development, environmental and land management sectors. Through these partnerships, you will help shape plans, policies and major development proposals, ensuring that trees and woodlands are embedded as a fundamental component of sustainable growth and place-making.

This is a high-profile leadership role requiring strong planning expertise, proven experience of leading and developing teams, excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence decision-making at all levels.

The role requires occasional nationwide travel. We support blended working, combining time at a base office location with home working. Candidates will be required to travel nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the delivery of the Forestry Commissions statutory and non-statutory responses to planning consultations, including Spatial Development Strategies, Local Plans, NSIPs, Planning Applications, Tree and Woodland Strategies, etc.
• Provide Leadership and management of the Planning Delivery group, including the five area based advisers and the planning co-ordinator role. Establish a high-performing, collaborative team culture, ensuring effective alignment with existing Area Team staff, integration with established ways of working, and consistent engagement across the Forestry Commission.
• Forensically assess, identify and review the delivery of the Forestry Commissions planning work. Including working practices, to help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the advice given.
• Oversee the development of key resources that will improve consultation responses including internal guidance, templates, standard responses and text as part of the development of the casework tracking system
• Provide regular, timely and accurate reporting on the Forestry Commission's planning performance and delivery, including maintaining effective relationships with Defra and MHCLG to ensure reporting requirements, priorities and stakeholder expectations are met.
• Provide updates for the national planning delivery team and area teams on changes to the planning system and the Forestry Commissions role within in it.
• Work with other Senior Planners across PIBE to provide leadership and guidance to the national Planning Delivery Team and Area Teams on developments within the planning system, ensuring colleagues remain informed of legislative, policy and procedural changes, and understand the Forestry Commission’s role, responsibilities and strategic priorities within the planning process.
• Develop and implement a casework review process that supports advisers and managers in producing high-quality, consistent and proportionate responses to planning consultations and applications.'

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Fixed term Appointment to 30th March 2028. This is a Temporary Appointment with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following online:

• A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 3 parts and request: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
• A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

The interview will take place w/c 24th September and will involve a presentation relating to the behaviour 'Leadership' and series of strength and behaviour based questions. This date is subject to change

Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

This role is full time. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.

The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via FCERecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.