The Plans and Policy job family requires applicants with relevant skills and experience to work across the functions of policy development and development plans work.

Post holders will be responsible for inputting into the drafting and updating of National Planning Policy together with the preparation and implementation of Future Wales our National Plan. These documents evidence the principles of placemaking as a central tenet of the planning system in Wales and they are integral to the way in which we work.

The postholders will be key members of the Plans and Policy Team and will develop expertise across a range of policy topics. They would be expected to develop key specialisms related to planning policy and take the lead for developing new, and revising existing, policy.

They would input into a wide range of other initiatives across Government and be expected to support the other work of the Planning Directorate such as, legislation, development management and case work.

Under the supervision of a Senior Planning Manager, Planning Managers in the Plans and Policy family will be leading on specific policy areas to articulate the policy position and to support and deliver evidence-based policy across a range of specialist topics related to placemaking as well as some of the topics covered by the wider team. Topic areas include:

• Climate Change adaptation & mitigation including flooding
• Economic Development
• Energy
• Green Infrastructure & Biodiversity
• Historic Environment
• Housing
• Leisure & recreation
• Mineral & Waste
• Noise & Soundscape
• Retailing
• Transport

Key responsibilities include:

• The production of draft advice and documents relating to planning policy such as Planning Policy Wales, Future Wales and various Technical Advice Notes
• Assisting Senior Planning Managers with preparing and implementing engagement exercises with external stakeholders.
• Drafting advice for Ministers during policy preparation and liaising with Private Offices.
• Support the Legislation and Casework job family within Planning Directorate at times of high demand

The post provides opportunities to develop national planning policy on a wide range of topics and will provide the chance to engage with policy development across Government. The role has a major outward facing element, engaging with a range of wide stakeholders, the postholder will build a wide knowledge and personal contacts.

An important part of the role, under the management and support of Senior Planning Managers, is to address new policy questions. It will require exploration of new policy including the initiation and use of a variety of evidence sources such as research, consultation and stakeholder engagement, leading to co-design of policy, working with a variety of stakeholders to produce options and solutions which may include considering legislation and regulations.

The post holder will be focussed on long term priorities but operate flexibly to handle new priorities which can arise rapidly.

Candidates must be a graduate in town and country planning or an appropriate environmental/ land use discipline (e.g. urban design, architecture, environmental science, environmental impact assessment, landscape, ecology, air pollution management, transport planning). Evidence of the relevant qualification must be supplied with your application.

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Experience of working in a land use planning related role. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.

Should candidates score the same after interview the candidate which scored the highest in the following order of priority will be offered the post:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Experience of developing policy while in a land use planning or related role.
• Changing and Improving