Job Specifications
Job Summary
The Planning Inspectorate is a government agency of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.. We handle planning appeals, national infrastructure planning applications, examinations of local plans and other specialist casework across England.
We are helping to meet future infrastructure needs; further economic growth will be underpinned by sustainable development across a number of sectors, particularly energy and transport.
We support communities shape where they live by implementing government’s aims of sustainable development and through shaping positive local planning.
You will be immersed in the centre of infrastructure planning in the UK. Working in a dynamic casework team, you will provide support in the many various duties required of the process. This can include attending developer meetings, quality checking application documents and organising case evidence. You will also have the opportunity to travel to various locations around the country to ensure the smooth running of preliminary meetings, site visits and hearings.
For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers
Job Description
Main Responsibilities
Operational Delivery
Act as the first point of contact for multiple projects, responding to and escalating queries.
Support event management and logistics for online and in‑person meetings, assisting inspectors and attendees.
Prepare reports, trackers, and technical summaries, and take accurate notes during project meetings.
Create and maintain mailing lists, and analyse documentation for compliance with the Planning Act 2008.
Coordinate with the administration team to manage document redaction, publication, and mailings.
Customer Relationships
Provide excellent customer service to applicants, the public, local authorities, and other organisations.
Collaborate with internal teams, external organisations, and the Secretary of State to achieve objectives.
Represent the Inspectorate at events, both online and in person.
Team
Share ideas and solutions to improve processes and enhance team performance.
Work flexibly across different teams within the National Infrastructure group.
Commit to training, self‑development, and acting on feedback.
Ensure compliance with organisational policies on data management, health, and safety.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest
This role is being advertised at £23,751 Apprentice AO Grade
Working Hours
Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available
Office Attendance
This role is contractually based at our office in Bristol, 10-minute walk from Temple Meads train station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units - the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.
Person specification
We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements listed:
Essential Criteria
Sandwich year placement student on any environmental related course such as environmental science, environmental management, ecology or geography.
Good Microsoft IT skills to manage large spreadsheets of text, and complex reports.
Proven ability to accurately check data and information records.
Good customer service skills, providing comprehensive written correspondence and telephone contact to a wide variety of customers.
Excellent communication skills, confident dealing with a range of stakeholders and escalating issues to internal contacts as appropriate.
Organisational skills, demonstrated by the ability to manage multiple tasks, with the ability to prioritise effectively.
Desirable Criteria
For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process , Civil Service Careers
Experience of working within an administrative or customer facing environment
Event assistant or management
Involvement in planning or consenting regimes
Knowledge of the Planning Act 2008
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £23,751, Planning Inspectorate contributes £6,880 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Flexible working options, including flexi-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
A working culture which encourages inclusion and
About the Company
The Planning Inspectorate deals with planning appeals, national infrastructure planning applications, examinations of local plans and other planning-related and specialist casework in England. Our purpose is to make decisions and provide recommendations and advice on a range of land use planning-related issues across England. We do this in a fair, open, impartial and timely way. The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities . Follow us on Twitter: http...
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