Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Historic Environment Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency,
Business unit	Development Management
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Service Manager Development Management
Accountable to (line manager)	Service Manager Development Management
Salary grade	I
JE ref	PLA033

1. Key purpose of job

Assist with the delivery of high quality, robust and transparent decision making on conservation and landscape matters through the effective management of development management cases through the planning process.
Provide comprehensive and detailed advice on best practice with regards to the conservation of nationally and locally designated landscapes and delivering successful planning outcomes.
To assist in providing landscape advice on development proposals prepared by the Council as well as those forming part of major applications.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

Ensuring relevant planning and listed building consent applications are determined with the proper consideration of heritage issues and with the appropriate engagement at the pre application stage.
Ensuring that development plan policies and guidance are prepared with due consideration to heritage matters.
Providing accurate and up to date guidance on heritage related matters including the HARR, local lists and Conservation Appraisals and Management Plans.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

To assist in the preparation of guidance on landscape and open spaces, and input into landscape character studies, design guides and design codes within the bay.
To provide specialist conservation and landscape design advice to both internal and external customers, relating to the councils’ statutory and non-statutory planning functions.
To assist in the preparation of Local Plan policy and other planning studies relating to heritage and landscape matters.
To provide specialist conservation and landscape design advice to both internal and external customers, relating to the councils’ statutory and non-statutory planning functions.
To advise on and support enforcement action appropriate to safeguard the character and future viability of conservation areas, scheduled monuments and other historic landscapes.
To assist in the preparation of a local list.
To assist in the preparation and maintenance of a local Heritage at Risk Register.
To assist on the preparation of specialist evidence in respect of appeals including presenting evidence at Public Inquiries, Hearings and written representations.
To raise awareness and understanding of design and conservation issues including developing the skills capacity of planning staff and Elected Members.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

The post holder has no direct budget responsibilities but will be required to ensure that any budgets relating to the heritage function at Torbay Council are properly spent in line with the Council’s standing orders.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

No direct supervision but may from time to time be required to oversee the work of more junior staff. Expected to work independently.
Supervises multidisciplinary project teams to deliver historic environment projects.
Post holder will report to the Team Leader (Development Management).

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

Mainly office based with minimal exposure to disagreeable, unpleasant or hazardous environmental working conditions from regular site visits or to people-related behaviour when attending public meetings and consultation events.

7. Physical demands of the post

The post will be office based with the need to use computer screens.
Regular site visits to existing heritage sites and proposals within sites of heritage importance.

8. Specific resources used by the post

Regular computer use with relevant software packages and plan viewing/measuring programmes.
Use of primary resource material relating to the heritage information.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

Customers of the services (Agents, Developers, Applicants, Investors, service providers, local heritage organisations and interested parties).
Statutory and other consultees such as the Historic England, Gardens Trust, the statutory amenity societies, Neighbourhood Forums etc.

Internal

Officers within the Spatial Planning Business Unit.
Officers of other groups within the Council (highways, natural environment etc).
Managers and officers of other Directorates (e.g. legal services, estates, finance, housing etc).

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Historic Environment Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency,
Business unit	Development Management

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Self-motivated, productive, dynamic and innovative.
Effective computer literacy skills (MS windows).
Sound level of numeracy.
Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
Presentation skills particularly in relation to presenting reports to stakeholders and the general public.
Report preparation skills.
Communication and negotiation skills.
Able to convey information accurately and clearly in a manner which is clearly understood.
Assertion skills, i.e. able to determine and use behaviour which is appropriate to the situation and to exercise tact and diplomacy.
Administrative skills, i.e. a thorough organised approach to work with the ability to prioritise and manage workloads.
Able to see tasks through to a successful conclusion, meeting challenging deadlines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
Contributing successfully to effective team working.
Flexible approach to working hours.
A conscientious attitude to work.
Willingness to maintain and improve standards and performance through implementation of good practice and personal development.
Commitment to customer focus.
Able to effectively project manage a number of projects at the same time.
Ability to demonstrate initiative and flexibility.
High level of productivity.
Skills in creativity.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

Thorough understanding of the wider Planning functions including Planning Policy and Development Management.
Specialist knowledge of historic building conservation.
Working knowledge of all relevant planning and heritage legislation and national policies and guidance.
Understanding of wider national heritage issues and how they relate to the context of Torbay’s economic growth aspirations.

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge of the Uniform planning applications software system.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Degree or diploma in Town Planning, Landscape Architecture (CMLI), Archaeology, Building Conservation or a related discipline or significant relevant experience.
Proven experience in advising on proposals affecting heritage assets and landscape design projects.
Knowledge of issues confronting a local authority in terms of the development and implementation of landscape projects.
Membership or eligibility for membership of the Landscape Institute, Institute of Historic Building Conservation or equivalent body or other appropriate professional body.
Good working knowledge of relevant statutes such as the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act, 1990; Town and Country Planning Act, 1990 (as amended), Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order)(England), 2015 (as amended).
Able to demonstrate a detailed and wide knowledge of planning legislation, government advice and policy, circulars and guidance notes and awareness of general issues facing the planning profession.
Experience of legal and procedural matters relevant to the post.
Experience of Development Management involving negotiation with developers.
Working knowledge of Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.
A good working knowledge of the archaeology, landscape history and the historic environment.
A working knowledge and understanding of planning, including listed building legislation, policy guidance and circulars, practice and case law and the ability to apply that knowledge to conservation and landscape design matters.
Good knowledge of planning policies at national and local level, particularly where these relate to the historic environment.
An ability to recognize and communicate about significance in the historic environment.
Understanding of current conservation techniques and best practice.
Awareness of wider environmental issues, including climate change, sustainable transport and how the historic environment links to the wide corporate and national sustainability agenda.
Experience of presenting to planning or other committees. Experience of preparing and / or presenting evidence, as expert witness, for public inquiries and other hearings.
Experience in IT including Word, Excel and planning software packages.

Desirable experience and achievements

Experience of acting as a case officer for planning applications / listed building consents.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Degree or diploma in Town Planning, Landscape Architecture (CMLI), Archaeology, Building Conservation or a related discipline or significant relevant experience.
Proven experience in advising on proposals affecting heritage assets and landscape design projects.
Membership or eligibility for membership of the Landscape Institute, Institute of Historic Building Conservation or equivalent body or other appropriate professional body.