JOB SUMMARY

Are you ready to shape Scotland’s future by leading and providing support on planning decisions, sustainability, and the journey to net zero?
The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government plays an important role in the Planning Appeals system in Scotland. The DPEA is responsible for the administration of over 20 different types of casework.
As a Senior Appeals Planner, you will help make decisions on behalf of Ministers and provide recommendations on a wide range of planning, electricity consenting and related applications and appeals, to support wider strategies including transition to net zero, local living and the wellbeing economy
Sitting within the Scottish Government Legal Directorate, the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division makes appeal decisions on behalf of Scottish Ministers and recommendations on a wide range of casework. As a Senior Appeals Planner you will contribute to this role and purpose of DPEA and additionally line manage a new intake of Student Planners with oversight from a Principal Reporter and the Senior Management Team

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Decide on and report to Ministers with recommendations on straight-forward DPEA casework including: planning, listed building, enforcement, and environmental appeals; Electricity Act cases; development plans and evidence reports.
• Issue decisions within Ministerial targets.
• Maintain high levels of professional knowledge.
• Provide professional support to Reporters during complex casework, hearings, inquiries and/or development plan gatechecks and examinations (which may include scoping of evidence; review and analysis of representations; and assisting with the running of events).
• Plan and carry out frequent site visits, which will involve travel across the country.
• Carry out administrative and casework related functions as necessary to support the wider work of DPEA.
• Provide line management for Student Planners.
• Undertaking EIA screening and scoping exercises; and helping in analysis of EIA Reports.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Town and Country Planning or equivalent degree in the built environment, law, heritage, sustainability, energy production, environmental protection, engineering, surveying, urban design or architecture.
• Royal Town Planning Institute accreditation or equivalent professional accreditation.

TECHNICAL / PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

• Ability to work independently, using your initiative to address day-to-day difficulties and seek answers to questions.
• Self-disciplined and self-motivated in order to produce high-quality work within expected timescales.
• In-depth knowledge of the Scottish Planning System, NPF4 and the Planning Acts and how these relate to wider strategies and policies.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience working in land use, planning or a related discipline.

QUALIFICATIONS

Degree in Town and Country Planning or equivalent degree in the built environment, law, heritage, sustainability, energy production, environmental protection, engineering, surveying, urban design or architecture.
Royal Town Planning Institute accreditation or equivalent professional accreditation.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Ability to work independently, using your initiative to address day-to-day difficulties and seek answers to questions.
• Self-disciplined and self-motivated in order to produce high-quality work within expected timescales.
• In-depth knowledge of the Scottish Planning System, NPF4 and the Planning Acts and how these relate to wider strategies and policies.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

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)
• 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

Other