Location
Central London (remote working with occasional travel to meetings in central England)

Hours
Full Time - 4-day working week (Monday to Thursday)

Salary
£38,450 per annum

About the Role
This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a successful strategic species conservation strategy by supporting colleagues with essential knowledge and guidance on the UK planning system. You will apply your strategic planning policy expertise alongside knowledge of planning reforms and development management to support daily tasks and long-term projects, ensuring smooth integration with the planning system. As an experienced, well-organised and confident communicator, you will support strategic decision-making and provide guidance to all teams as needed. The role sits within the Core Support team, reporting to the Core Support Manager, working closely with two current planning specialists while also operating independently and collaboratively across the company.

Key responsibilities include co-ordinating the planning team to provide support across all teams on strategic planning and development management, communicating and interpreting planning policy and reforms, leading internal planning training sessions, reviewing external communications for planning accuracy, providing planning support in meetings and to external stakeholders, supervising planning knowledge for licence applications, and maintaining high-quality data and records. You will also coordinate dissemination of planning news and updates and undertake various administrative and project-related tasks as required.

NatureSpace Partnership is a rapidly growing company focused on conservation, particularly through the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme for great crested newts, which has expanded nationally and delivers significant biodiversity benefits. This is an exciting time to join as we develop new workstreams including Biodiversity Net Gain and pioneering licensing schemes for other protected species.

The role is mainly desk-based and remote, with occasional travel required. You will be trusted to manage your own workload independently, so strong motivation, sound judgement and good self-management are essential.

Experience
- Qualified to at least degree standard in a relevant discipline such as Town and Country Planning or Environmental Planning, or demonstrable equivalent working knowledge and experience.
- Line management experience.
- Good understanding of the role local planning authorities play in development decisions in England.
- Excellent knowledge of the English planning system at local, regional and national levels, including application, determination, appeals and planning policy.
- Good understanding of planning law to support the wider team.
- Proficient IT skills, including Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint).
- Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills, confident liaising with a range of stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively, including remote working.

About you
- Enthusiastic, capable and self-motivated individual.
- Strong organisational skills with ability to respond to changing priorities.
- Passionate about planning with a keen interest in biodiversity and sustainable development.
- Positive attitude and ability to work collaboratively within a dispersed national team.
- Willingness to travel occasionally to meetings in England.

Desirable
- Experience supporting team members in planning or environmental sectors.
- Understanding of environmental assessment, biodiversity conservation, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), protected species and licensing.
- Enthusiasm for UK wildlife conservation.

Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant planning or environmental discipline preferred.
- Demonstrable equivalent experience considered for suitable candidates.