Senior Strategic Planner

• Pay Rate: £50 - £55 per hour Umbrella
• Location: Southwark, London
• Job Type: Full-time, 6-month temporary contract
• Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, hybrid working with 1-2 days in the office each week, with additional office attendance required initially for training and IT set-up

We are seeking an experienced Senior Strategic Planner to join a high-profile public sector planning team during a critical period of policy development, consultation analysis and examination preparation. This Senior Strategic Planner position is ideally suited to someone with a strong background in local government, regional government or a comparable public body, with experience handling complex planning policy, statutory processes and cross-authority engagement.

Day to day of the role

• Lead or contribute to strategic planning work across spatial strategy, infrastructure, housing, environment, design and wider policy priorities
• Provide expert advice on planning policy, spatial development trends and statutory planning matters affecting London
• Support the preparation, review and delivery of strategic plans, supplementary guidance, planning frameworks and infrastructure assessments
• Assess strategic planning applications and contribute to negotiations relating to planning obligations, infrastructure and development impacts
• Review local plans, development plan documents and associated guidance, providing detailed conformity and policy advice
• Prepare reports, briefings, consultation responses and speeches for senior leaders, committees and external stakeholders
• Represent planning policy positions at examinations, hearings, inquiries and partnership meetings
• Work closely with boroughs, public bodies and external partners on cross-boundary and strategic planning matters
• Lead or support policy development and research projects, ensuring delivery to tight public sector deadlines and governance standards
• Contribute flexibly to wider planning and corporate priorities as required

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Degree or professional qualification in Town Planning or a related discipline
• Significant experience working as a Senior Strategic Planner or in a comparable planning role within the public sector
• Strong background in local authority, regional authority, government or other public sector planning environments
• Excellent knowledge of national planning policy, statutory planning processes and strategic planning issues affecting London
• Senior-level expertise across at least three areas such as spatial planning, infrastructure planning, Section 106, CIL, local plans, supplementary guidance, development management, urban design or heritage
• Proven experience preparing or advising on policy documents, planning frameworks, infrastructure assessments or area-based plans within a public sector setting
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities, political sensitivities and fixed statutory timescales
• Excellent research, analysis and report-writing skills, including the ability to turn complex information into clear recommendations
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working with elected members, senior officers, public sector partners and external agencies
• RTPI membership and GIS skills would be advantageous

Benefits

• Competitive pay rate of £50 - £55 per hour Umbrella
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Opportunity to work on high-profile strategic planning projects within the public sector
• Exposure to complex planning policy, statutory processes and London-wide development issues
• Varied role with scope to work across multiple planning specialisms
• Full-time weekday schedule for the duration of the contract

How to apply

To apply for this Senior Strategic Planner position, please submit your CV outlining your planning experience, relevant technical expertise and availability for this 6-month contract