Principal Planning Consultant

Capita's Planning Resilience Team: An Opportunity for a Principal Planning Consultant

For seasoned planning professionals looking to elevate their careers and make a significant impact, Capita's Planning Resilience team presents a compelling opportunity. This role is designed for individuals who are not only technically proficient but also driven to influence policy, improve services, and contribute to the communities they serve.

Key Advantages for Candidates:

• Leadership and Impact: As a Principal Planning Consultant, you will be at the forefront of managing major planning applications, providing expert advice, and driving service improvements for Local Authority clients. This is a chance to lead, influence, and see the tangible results of your expertise.
• Diverse Project Exposure: Capita offers access to a wide array of projects, ensuring that your work remains engaging and intellectually stimulating. You'll be exposed to a broad spectrum of planning challenges, allowing for continuous professional development.
• Collaborative Environment: You will be joining a substantial and supportive team of over 200 planning professionals. This provides a robust network for knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving, crucial for navigating complex planning landscapes.
• Career Growth and Development: The description highlights Capita's commitment to employee growth, offering opportunities to expand skills, explore new career paths, and advance within the organization.
• Flexible and Inclusive Workplace: The role is open to applicants across the UK and Northern Ireland, with a focus on being home-based. Capita also emphasizes its commitment to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and a supportive environment for all employees.
• Attractive Benefits Package: Beyond a competitive salary, Capita offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous holiday entitlement, the opportunity to buy extra leave, volunteering opportunities, a discretionary bonus or car allowance, excellent pension provisions, and various voluntary benefits designed to suit individual lifestyles.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Essential Experience: The role requires a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, critically including proven expertise as an expert witness at Planning Inquiries. Demonstrable experience as a Principal Planning Officer or Consultant in the public sector is also essential.
• Expertise in Major Applications and PPAs: A significant focus of this role is on processing major planning applications and leading on Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs). Candidates should possess a strong track record in these areas.
• Legislative and Policy Acumen: A high level of knowledge and understanding of current and emerging planning legislation and policy development at all levels (local, regional, and national) is paramount. The ability to apply this knowledge to provide strategic advice is key.
• Commercial Awareness: The role emphasizes contributing to business development and securing repeat work, requiring a commercial lens to all undertakings.
• Mentorship and Guidance: A core responsibility will be to support and guide peers and more junior staff, ensuring the effective dissemination of contemporary planning knowledge.
• Mobility: A full, clean UK Driving License and a willingness to travel are necessary to meet client requirements, indicating that while remote, there will be client-facing engagements.

This Principal Planning Consultant position at Capita offers a dynamic and rewarding career path for experienced professionals. It's an opportunity to leverage extensive expertise, contribute to significant projects, and grow within a supportive and forward-thinking organization dedicated to creating better outcomes.