Location
Exeter

Hours
Full-Time, Permanent

Salary
£34,320 per year

About the Role
Are you passionate about contributing to a more sustainable environment? This is your chance to make a meaningful impact. We’re seeking a motivated, confident and enthusiastic person to join a team that engages with a range of customers to promote sustainable growth and secure the best possible environmental outcomes.

You will be one of the Environment Agency’s main points of contact with a designated group of local planning authorities, developers and other bodies, mainly engaged in planning application advice, pre-application and strategic advice including recovery of costs, liaising with customers, issuing quotes and reports, and local development plan advice covering evidence, policy and site allocations.

You will proactively engage with local authorities and developers, working closely with colleagues in flood risk, water quality, contaminated land, biodiversity, and environmental management to deliver expert advice and manage and coordinate formal responses within negotiated timescales, ensuring appropriate quality outcomes. You will advocate for climate resilience and influence policies and proposals, shaping decisions that impact the future of our towns and cities. The role requires meeting strict deadlines and targets under challenging work pressures.

The successful candidate will develop strong relationships, demonstrate excellent communication and customer service skills, and gain awareness of the Government’s growth agenda, relevant planning systems, the development industry, and Environment Agency objectives. This is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of planning systems while developing valuable skills in project management, financial oversight, leadership, and innovation.

Incident response is central to our mission; all staff undertake training and are expected to participate in incident response, which may attract additional payments. Full training is provided.

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. Flexible working patterns are welcomed and considered for all vacancies.

Experience
- Degree in Town and Country Planning or a relevant discipline such as Geography, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Geoscience, Ecology, or Biology, OR significant relevant planning experience (e.g. working in an Environment Agency Sustainable Places or consultee team, for a developer, local planning authority, or another statutory consultee such as Natural England, MMO, Historic England, or Highways).
- Proven ability to achieve results and proactively identify and solve problems.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage successfully with a range of audiences.
- Strong team ethic and ability to work independently.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively.
- Strong customer service, communication and relationship-building skills, both written and verbal.
- Excellent IT skills.

About you
- Enthusiastic and willing to learn.
- Passionate about the environment and planning processes.
- Ability to develop strong relationships and work collaboratively.
- Resilient and able to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

Qualifications
- Degree or relevant experience as outlined above.

Desirable
- Good understanding of the Environment Agency’s broad business and environmental activities.

Benefits
- Company pension scheme.
- Enhanced maternity leave.
- Enhanced paternity leave.
- Flexible working options considered on a case-by-case basis.