JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB INFORMATION
JOB TITLE
SERVICE AREA
Urban Design and
Conservation Officer
Planning and Regulatory
Services
POST NUMBER
000712
LOCATION
St Aldates
GRADE
8
GRADE RANGE
HOURS
37
TYPE
£36,127 - with
possible
progression to
£38,905 per annum
(pro rata for part
time)
Fixed term for 3
years
ACCOUNTABILITIES
RESPONSIBLE TO
Team Leader Design, Heritage &
Specialist Services
NO. OF
EMPLOYEES
n/a
BUDGET (£)
n/a
ASSETS
n/a
JOB PURPOSE
To be responsible for providing a high quality design and conservation service on statutory work
relating to listed buildings and conservation areas, guidance on planning applications, input to major
regeneration projects and planning policy.
Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of demonstrating that they fulfil the
following criteria in their application form and should include clear examples of how
they meet these criteria.
CRITERIA
Essential/
Desirable
requiremen
t
Qualifications & Experience
E
An RTPI recognised degree level qualification in town
planning or historic environment or another equivalent
relevant degree
A degree level or post-graduate qualification in urban
design
Full membership (or working towards) of one of: the Royal
Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Institute of Historic
Building Conservation (IHBC) or the Royal Institute of
British Architects (RIBA)
Evidence of a thorough understanding of conservation
and heritage and urban design issues with the ability to
present and apply this knowledge in a range of situations
and audiences
Demonstrate at least 5 years’ experience in town planning
and/or historic conservation in a UK local authority,
D
Method of testing
AF = Application form
I = Interview,
T = Test
AF
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
T
X
X
X
X
including dealing with the urban design aspects of major
and complex development/regeneration proposals
Experience of negotiating with applicants, agents and
interested parties on conservation and heritage issues
and successfully working with stakeholders
Evidence of presenting evidence at Informal Hearing,
Planning Appeals, Local Plan Inquiries or similar public
inquiries
Experience of working with elected Members and other
representatives, including presenting to Committee
X
X
X
X
X
X
Evidence on extensive Continuous Professional
Development (CPD)
X
X
Technical Knowledge/Skills
Working and current knowledge of the UK planning
system and the implications of the 2004 Planning Act,
including current planning law and Government guidance
X
X
Ability to successfully negotiate, remaining open to
suggestions, whilst significantly influencing outcomes.
X
X
Ability to convey information clearly and succinctly,
verbally and in writing.
X
X
X
Reaches sound and proportionate judgements after
careful and systematic evaluation of relevant facts.
X
X
X
Able to lead on issues, and guide more junior staff.
X
Project management. Evidence of effective project
management skills, and their use in delivering projects.
X
X
X
Values & Behaviours
Take personal responsibility for our actions;
Displaying a proactive and positive attitude and readily
accepting ownership of your responsibilities as an
employee. Actively supporting your team and colleagues
in an open and honest way, reflecting on your own
performance and seeking opportunities to improve and
develop.
Put communities’ and customers’ needs first;
Providing an excellent level of service to your customers
making sure their needs are understood, met and
managed. Demonstrating an understanding of the needs
and issues of communities.
Embrace innovation: Actively putting forward new ideas
about how to work better and improve performance to
enable the service to get ahead. Showing a genuine
commitment to supporting change and new ideas.
Value diversity: Demonstrating a positive attitude toward
individual difference, community and cultural difference by
being open minded, fair and actively contributing to the
development of an inclusive work environment.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To deliver the following service:
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Support to the service area on delivery of the Corporate and service plans using appropriate
organisational tools, policies and procedures
This includes
 Acting as case officer for applications for listed building consent, including pre-application
advice, validation, assessment of heritage significance and impacts, negotiation with
customers, preparation of reports with justification of decisions taken, presentation at
committee where appropriate
 Providing design and conservation input to planning applications and major regeneration
projects.
 Assisting with listed building, conservation area and planning enforcement action where
appropriate
 Developing conservation and design policies, and helping to ensure that the Council’s
strategies and programmes have appropriate policies and guidance relating to urban design
and conservation
 Preparing and presenting specialist evidence at public inquiries, informal hearings and the
courts where impacts on heritage assets and/or design are issues
 Undertaking projects that contribute to the delivery of the Council’s Heritage Plan, including
preparing and delivering conservation area character appraisals and management plans, the
maintenance of the Oxford Heritage Asset Register, encouraging the use of the Character
Assessment toolkit
 Acting as a mentor on design and conservation for more junior conservation staff, as well as
other colleagues, encouraging best practice in a shared working environment
 Planning, programming and prioritising work in order to meet deadlines, targets and
timetables
 Maximising opportunities for income generation, including pre-application charging, external
funding bids.
To monitor service area delivery and support continuous service improvement, challenging existing
practice and actively seeking ways of achieving greater outcomes and leaner delivery (GOLD)
To act as ambassador for the service area both internally and externally representing the service area
priorities and organisation initiatives as appropriate
To contribute to projects; to contribute to service project teams as required
To support development & delivery of a system of continuous review and improvement within the
Service so that ‘traditional thinking’ is challenged and innovation pursued.
GENERIC RESPONSIBILITIES





To provide the service in accordance with the Council’s Vision, Corporate Plan and Service
Transformation Plans
To demonstrate and promote ethical behaviour appropriate to that which would be expected by our
customers
To participate in the adoption and promotion of the Council equalities and carbon management
initiative
To work in a flexible manner and to be willing to undertake other duties as reasonably requested
including outside of office hours
Oxford City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young
people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to demonstrate this commitment
in every aspect of their work.
Candidate
Screening
Rehabilitation
of Offenders
Act 1974
Criminal Record/Vetting Checks:
Not Exempt
Politically
Sensitive Post
Not required
No
This job description is written at a specific time and is subject to change as the demands of the
business and the role develops. The role requires flexibility and adaptability and the employees of the
Council need to be aware that they may be asked to perform tasks and be given responsibilities not
detailed on this job description.