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The Friday Five 17.03.23

Written by: Ben Gosling
Published on: 17 Mar 2023

It's the Friday Five! This week, great planning jobs in Port Talbot, Glasgow, Worcester, Leicestershire and even sunny Ottawa, Canada. 

1. General Manager, Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development, City of Ottawa

Location: Ottawa, Canada

The job: “Reporting to the City Manager, the General Manager, Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development (General Manager) is accountable for providing vision, leadership, and strategic direction to PRED. Leading and developing a team of approximately 646 staff, the General Manager, plans, directs, and improves the delivery of PRED Services, ensuring business strategies, policies, programs, services, and operations align with the vision and priorities of the corporation and Council, and reflect sensitivity to customer/client needs and political issues. 

“As the ideal candidate you bring a minimum of 10 years of experience in land use planning, engineering, real estate and/or economic development gained in complex multistakeholder organizations, including a minimum of 5 years managing human resources, external contract resources, operating and capital budgets.

“The successful candidate should be proficient in English and French.”

Cold thermostat, iStock  [square]Fun fact: Ottawa, Canada’s capital, is the 7th coldest capital city in the world – it’s chilly, but lags behind the coldest capital in the world, and Scrabble high-scorer, Ulaan-Baatar in Mongolia. 

Find out more and apply


    

 

 

2. Senior Policy Planner x 2, Neath Port Talbot Council

Location: The Quay, Neath Port Talbot 

The job: “As a Senior Policy Planner, you will support the team in a range of planning policy matters whilst playing a lead role in the preparation, monitoring and review of the Local Development Plan, including formulation of planning policy and the production and commissioning of key evidence-based documents.

“You will be required to prepare reports and make recommendations on a range of planning policy matters and to appear on behalf of the Council at the Examination in Public and Planning Appeals. Part of the role will be to contribute towards on-going regional collaboration and assist in the preparation of joint evidence studies and methodologies.

“The role will help shape the direction of strategic planning and candidates should have a proven track record of carrying out research and analysis across a range of planning portfolios.  You should demonstrate an aptitude to deliver positive outcomes and promote sustainable development and growth. Previous experience of partnership working and public engagement/consultation and the ability to work on your own initiative is essential.

“The successful candidate should demonstrate a sound knowledge of National Planning Policy and Legislation, in particular the Local Development Plan process, and be familiar with the workings of a professional planning office within local government.”

Star [square]Fun fact: Three of Wales’s biggest stars come from Port Talbot: Michael Sheen (who your author is always confusing with Martin Sheen) and baritone-voiced superstars Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton are from the town. In fact, according to Wales Online, Hopkins was inspired to emulate Burton after “seeing him turn up in a sports car at the Port Talbot YMCA and driving off with an attractive young drama teacher”.

Find out more and apply 

 

3. Development Project Manager

Location: Glasgow, Low Carbon

The job:  “Low Carbon is a leading renewable energy company committed to the development, investment and operation of renewable energy at scale.

“This is a great opportunity for someone who is looking for a project delivery role focussed on all aspects of project management relating to onshore wind developments including planning, land, investment and grid connections. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in project management for large utility scale onshore wind projects and the ability to take on responsibility and accountability for your own projects. 

“The team is based in a brand new Glasgow office but as this role will require regular travel around Scotland,  candidates working from bases in areas such as Inverness or Perth could also be considered. You are likely to be in Glasgow on a regular basis so must be willing and able to travel.

“You’ll need determination and drive, taking personal responsibility to deliver renewable energy projects. The individual in this role needs to be highly organised and willing to go that extra mile.  This role is quite varied, so there will be the opportunity to learn new skills outside of the candidate’s comfort zone.”

Glasgow [square]Fun fact: Biggest city in Scotland, fifth most visited in the UK: Glasgow’s Gaelic name is Glaschu, meaning ‘green space’. It’s possible that Glasgow was named by an enthusiastic developer with a passion for outdoor amenity areas.

Find out more and apply 

 

 

 

4. Associate / Associate Director-Planning, Prior + Partners

Location: London

The job: “We are looking for experienced planners to join us who have a passion and commitment for our cities, towns, and neighbourhoods, and making them places that are as fit for the future, as they are for today.

“We would like to hear from you if you could help us develop our UK planning consultancy with a focus on the development sector.

“Candidates should be chartered members of the RTPI, RICS P+D, or other relevant bodies.”

Cows [square]Fun fact:  Prior + Partners’ London office is on Cowcross Street, near Farringdon Station. Originally, the street was just known as ‘Cow Cross’ – perhaps it was a bovine highway to the nearby Smithfield Market, the largest wholesale meat market in the UK, and the site of a livestock market for over 800 years. 

Find out more and apply 

 

 

5. Principal Planning Officer, Leicestershire County Council

Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 8RA

The job:  “The role is varied and interesting, managing a diverse caseload of planning applications; carrying out monitoring and enforcement; and policy work. As well as minerals and waste, there will also be the opportunity to play a significant role in the delivery of schools, roads, infrastructure, business and commercial development, as the County Council invests in its own programme of building.
 
“The County Council currently has a vacancy for a Principal Planning Officer to undertake work associated with the minerals, waste and county planning functions of the authority. As well as your own case load, the role involves the supervision of career grade planning officers, deputising for management and the authorisation of delegated decisions.
 
“We are looking for a dynamic and motivated individual with good communication and negotiation skills, a high level of organisation and a commitment to embracing the County Council’s values and behaviours of positivity; trust and respect; flexibility; and openness and transparency.”

Euston [square]Fun fact: The Leicester and Swannington Railway, opened in 1832, was one of the world’s first railways, and passed through the village. At the time, the railway passed through the Glenfield Tunnel, designed by Robert Stephenson. Although it’s no longer in service, the tunnel was at one point the world’s longest railway tunnel, at one mile and 36 yards.

Find out more and apply 

Image credits |  iStock and Shutterstock