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PRINCIPAL CONSERVATION OFFICER

Employer
Maidstone Borough Council
Location
Maidstone, Kent
Salary
Grade 11 £37,534 - £40,717 Plus £5,000 market supplement and essential car user allowance
Closing date
30 May 2022

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Sector
Local Authority, Public sector
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time
Job Level
Officer, Planner
Specialism
Planning

Job Details

Pride in our Borough: A Borough that works for everyone

Maidstone is situated in the heart of Kent and is the county town.  The urban centre has a strong commercial and retail base with good transport links but is set in a generally rural area, which includes the Kent Downs and the Kent Low Weald AONBs.  The borough is fortunate to benefit from a diverse and valued heritage with 41 conservation areas, over 2000 listed buildings, 28 scheduled monuments and 15 historic parks and gardens.  In recent years Maidstone has experienced unprecedented growth and we are in a great position to shape this growth with a genuine commitment to respecting the character and heritage of the borough and achieving high quality design.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated experienced Conservation Officer to join the Heritage, Landscape and Design team, a small but busy multi-disciplinary team dealing with conservation of the built environment, landscape and trees. 

We are looking for someone who can work effectively with partners and customers and enjoys collaborating and negotiating on new development proposals. Your varied workload will include dealing with your own caseload of LBC applications, advising and providing guidance on listed buildings and conservation areas relating to impacts and effects of new development, as well as on repair and maintenance issues.  You will also be responsible for the production of conservation character appraisals and management plans and contribute to local planning policy and corporate projects. 

You will need to have a degree in Historic Building Conservation, Architectural Conservation, or a related discipline, and professional membership of IHBC, RIBA or RTPI.  You should also be able to demonstrate experience of specialist work in the historic environment, ideally within a local authority and planning context.  Good communication skills are vital, as is the ability to prepare and present expert evidence at Committee meetings, Court hearings and public inquiries.  Additionally, a full driving licence is essential.

Working in Maidstone you’ll also be less than an hour from London by train and have all that Kent can offer at your fingertips.  You’ll also have the opportunity to develop your skills and experience within an organisation that prides itself on supporting its staff. We encourage all types of vocational and technical training & qualifications, including management and leadership programmes.  In addition to learning & development, we also offer many flexible working opportunities, including job share, flexi time, nine-day fortnight, compressed hours and home working.

This is a full-time position, on a permanent contract, working 37 hours a week Monday to Friday, with the scope for agile working under the Council’s new agile working arrangements, dependant on the needs of service.  

If you feel you meet the requirements of the post and are ready for a new and exciting challenge in a progressive ambitious Local Authority, then we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits include: flexible working (including opportunities for home working and compacted hours), payment of professional fees, free staff car parking, generous leave entitlement (24 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years’ service, in addition to bank holidays and an additional day over the Christmas period), pension scheme and employee benefits package 

For further information, or to discuss this opportunity in more detail, please contact Deanne Cunningham on 01622 602721

Closing Date: 30th May 2022
Interview Date: TBC

 

Company

Maidstone is a place with a lot going on. With an investment budget of £6 million and provision for regeneration projects of £1.8 million this year the Council is committed to ambitious regeneration and development of the borough – protecting the unique character of our historic urban centres and stunning rural settings, while encouraging and supporting responsible and sustainable economic growth. 

Company info
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