Senior Policy Adviser (National Planning)

Salary£36,800 - £40,748 (GBP)depending on location and experience

Summary

We are the public body that looks after England’s historic environment. We champion historic places, helping people understand, value and care for them.

Historic England have a fantastic opportunity for you to become our Senior Policy Adviser.

This is a specialist policy post with a particular focus on national planning and heritage protection issues.

You can be based out of one of the following offices; London, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and York.

There are currently (August 2023) significant changes proposed to the planning system, which offer opportunities to influence planning policy for years to come. It is vital that Historic England (HE) continues to make the case for the benefits that protection of the historic environment brings to society: from helping to create better places, drive sustainable growth, and improve wellbeing, to reducing carbon emissions and waste. There are also significant changes anticipated around infrastructure delivery, and a key purpose of the post to ensure HE puts forward a persuasive case for the continued protection of the historic environment as changes are brought forward.

The post-holder will be line managed by the Head of Planning and Heritage Reform Strategy, ensuring that the Government’s planning, levelling up, and infrastructure policies take account of the historic environment. The post-holder will develop HE’s contribution in these areas as well as responding to relevant consultations from government and others, including writing HE advice notes and briefings. The goal is to reinforce HE’s role as an effective advocate for the role of heritage in the planning system, as well as the importance of heritage protection more generally. The post-holder will also lead on key topic areas, as appropriate.  

In addition, up to 40% of the post-holder’s time may be called upon to work on other areas of policy development to respond to changing priorities.

National salary range:

£36,800 pro-rata

Greater London + salary range:

£39,408 pro-rata

Inner London salary range:

£40,748 pro-rata

What you will be doing

Influence Government Legislation, Policy and Guidance:

• To prepare responses to relevant Government consultations and other initiatives relating to planning issues with relevance to historic environment protection, and to ensure that associated documents, guidance and subsequent Government initiatives take proper account of the historic environment.

• To maintain and develop strategic relationships with Government departments, national agencies and organisations concerned with planning, levelling up, housing supply and infrastructure.

• To represent HE at a range of national forums concerned with planning, levelling up, housing supply and infrastructure.

Engage and Update the Heritage Sector and Historic England Colleagues:

• To work with the Head of Planning and Heritage Reform Strategy to ensure that HE understands the latest trends and implications of policy changes and  development impacting on the historic environment.

• To draft HE advice and position statements relating to planning, levelling up, housing supply and infrastructure. To ensure that staff across HE dealing with these issues have up-to-date information.

• To assist the Head of Planning and Heritage Reform Strategy with ongoing work in relation to the reform of the planning system, both proactive and reactive, ensuring that HE has the relevant evidence and foresight to assist constructive engagement in reform.

• To assist work on heritage protection policy, as appropriate.

• To work flexibly (up to 40% of time) to cover wider strategic issues in response to changing national, organisational and team priorities.

What we are looking for:

• Significant experience of strategic work relating to planning, heritage, and sustainable development.

• Significant experience of working within a policy, consultancy or advocacy environment.

• The ability to work with a wide range of external partners and stakeholders with both authority and sensitivity.

• Experience in using planning legislation and policy to support the delivery of positive change.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills for a wide range of audiences. This should include a proven record of writing in both technical and non-technical styles.

• The commitment to deliver heritage and planning reform and the ability to communicate clear and compelling arguments.

We are an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. Having just won the Gold Award from MIND, we also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone. We want to make sure our working arrangements don’t prevent anyone from joining us because of their personal circumstances. We also want to provide you with the best balance in your home and work life that we can.

We are open to considering options including job sharing, part-time working, compressed hours working and different working locations, including hybrid working. Please visit our jobs pages or contact us to find out more.

Why work for Historic England

We offer a wide benefits package including a competitive pension scheme starting at 26% contributions, a generous 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, free entry into English Heritage sites across the country and development opportunities to ensure you achieve your goals.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Diversity helps us to perform better and attract more people to support our work. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and candidates with disabilities as they are underrepresented within Historic England at this level.

Historic England want all of our candidates to shine in the recruitment process. Please tell us what we can do to make sure you can show us your very best self. You can contact us by email at ResourcingTeam@Historicengland.org.uk if you have any recruitment queries. 

To ensure a fair and inclusive recruitment process for everyone the use of AI or automated tools is not permitted.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a copy of your CV through the Applied recruitment system (Click on the 'Apply Now Button') and please attach a cover letter telling us why you are suitable for this position (max 300).

Provisional interview dates: w/c 11th December 2023.

Please click the following link for the full Job Description;

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