Senior Landscape and Placemaking Officer

About the job

Key information

• This role provides the opportunity for hybrid working. Working from one of our Offices in Somerset and from Home, days to be agreed with your Manager.
• 30 days’ annual leave (in addition to bank holidays).
• You will join a team that is dedicated and committed to transforming our communities through high-quality, safe, and accessible development, while striving to create desirable places for people to live and work as part of Somerset’s ambitious growth plans.
• The contract offered is permanent and full-time (37 hours per week).

What will I be doing?

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. As a Senior Landscape and Placemaking Officer you will play a pivotal role in the Planning Directorate, contributing to the sustainable development and enhancements of Somersets natural and built environments. The service brings together Landscape, Urban Design, Trees and Conservation to provide innovative solutions to challenging issues and is at the forefront of new thinking.

The area is varied in character and stretches from the Exmoor National Park and the Bristol Channel to the borders of Devon and Dorset, the Mendip Hills and the National Landscape of Cranborne Chase.

Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Providing expert advice on landscape and visual impact assessments, design and placemaking for planning applications and pre-applications.
• Supporting the preparation, implementation and review of statutory development plans.
• Developing and implementing landscape strategies, design codes, masterplans and policies in line with local and national guidelines.
• Collaborating with developers and architects to ensure landscape and placemaking considerations are integrated into planning processes.
• Engaging with community groups and the public to promote landscape initiatives and gathering feedback.

This role will require travel around Somerset, in areas that are not covered by public transport.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you have:

• A Degree in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning, urban design or a related field.
• Membership (or eligible to join) of a relevant professional body, such as the Landscape Institute.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Proficiency in using landscape design and assessment software.
• Proven experience in Landscape Planning, Urban design and assessing /advising on landscape and visual impacts of development proposals.
• In depth knowledge of landscape planning and urban design principles with an understanding of local and national planning policies and guidelines.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What is in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

Supporting documents and information

The Salary for the role is Grade 9 ranging from £40,476 to £44,711 per annum.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Fiona Webb, Placemaking Team Manager, on 01823 219458 or via Fiona.webb@somerset.gov.uk

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button – we can’t wait to hear from you.

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now