Strategic Planner

Come and play your part in shaping the future of London. You will work as part of the brilliant team of planning professionals who lead on the London Plan, (the Mayor’s Spatial Development Strategy), which sets the policies for development across the capital. 

From leading conversations and engagement with stakeholders and communities, to producing data-driven evidence, and using your judgment and knowledge to advise the Senior Team and Deputy Mayor on planning matters and the formulation of policy. No two days will be the same. You’ll be part of a friendly team with a to-do list that includes building on previous successes to: 

• plan for London’s future employment land and jobs
• protect London’s industrial land
• deliver the infrastructure necessary to support growth
• plan for the spatial growth pattern of London
• address inequality through policies that contribute positively to inclusion and accessibility
• understand the views of stakeholders and Londoners to inform the next iteration of the London Plan
• widen participation in the planning system.

You’ll be a skilled communicator, either working towards a role in planning or with a successful track record of policy development and plan-making. You’ll have excellent knowledge of the range of planning issues facing the capital. Able to demonstrate your political awareness, you’ll bring your enthusiasm to work with you in a role where you can benefit from professional development opportunities and on-the-job learning, as well as wider development opportunities, such as through participation in and leadership of our staff networks, and involvement in work to promote the equalities, diversity and inclusion agenda. This helps to make the GLA a great place to work, and a place that reflects the communities we serve.

You’ll enjoy working collaboratively on the key issues affecting development in London and will work across the GLA and with Transport for London and Mayoral bodies. Experience of working in planning policy at a London borough will be particularly welcome.  

We’re positive about flexible and hybrid working, with regular attendance at our office at Union Street, SE1 (Mondays) with an expectation that staff may need to attend in person up to 1 or 2 additional days per week, (site visits or attendance at other external meetings count towards this). We are a diverse organisation and particularly welcome applications from minority groups including black and minority ethnic staff and the LGBTQ community. 

1. Assist with
   - (i) spatial strategies: development, monitoring and review of the Mayor's strategies, especially the spatial and economic development, housing and transport strategies;
   - (ii) conformity monitoring and advice on borough development plan documents, local plans and associated local plan-making statutory and supplementary planning documents;
2. Briefings and reports for the Mayor, Assembly and other organisations on planning and spatial development issues.
3. Assist in the design, management and completion of relevant policy development projects and research.
4. Assist in providing advice on planning briefs, development proposals and the plans and strategies of other agencies especially Local Development Documents and the development plans of adjacent authorities
5. Contribute to coordination, liaison and engagement processes necessary to address spatial development and planning issues.
6. Assist in the preparation of responses on behalf of the GLA to complex issues raised by the public and diverse agencies.
7. Work with GLA group staff and external organisations including boroughs, partnerships, consultancies, academic and voluntary agencies to address the Mayor’s planning and spatial development concerns. 
8. Assist in the representation of the Mayor’s planning and development policies, concerns and objectives to examinations in public (including those into Local Development Documents), commissions and public inquiries.
9. Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
10. Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work and participate in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams

Technical requirements/ experience/ qualifications

Grade 6:

1. Substantial progress towards either a degree in planning or equivalent or post graduate qualification with eligibility for Royal Town Planning Institute membership. 
2. Knowledge and understanding of national, regional and London strategic planning and development issues, legal processes, policy trends, and broad knowledge and understanding of local planning issues and processes and a knowledge of urban design and place making.
3. Evidence of an ability to investigate, analyse and present policy and urban design solutions for planning issues. 
4. Excellent communication skills; and evidence of ability to prepare clear and concise reports, presentations and briefings, including an ability to illustrate ideas through mapping and graphics presentations.

Grade 7:

1. Qualification in planning or related field with at least 1 year’s post-qualification professional experience.
2. Knowledge and broad understanding of national, regional and London strategic planning, policy and development issues and trends.
3. Broad understanding and experience in either: strategy or policy production, local plan-making and supplementary planning documents, projects and development frameworks, development management and strategic planning application assessments.
4. General understanding and experience of infrastructure planning, delivery and funding mechanisms, including S.106 agreements and community infrastructure levy (CIL).

Behavioural competencies

Communicating and influencing

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
• Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

Strategic thinking

… is using an understanding of the bigger picture to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for the long term and turning these into a compelling vision for action.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

• Understands how own and team’s work contributes to the delivery of the GLA’s objectives
• Uses understanding of different parts of the organisation to accomplish goals and objectives
• Understands what specific actions need to be taken to contribute to organisational objectives
• Shows consideration for wider organisational implications of personal work

Planning and organising

...is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 1 indictors of effectiveness

• Plans and prioritises own workload to meet agreed deadlines
• Advises colleagues or manager early of obstacles to work delivery
• Perseveres and follows work through to completion
• Checks for errors to ensure work is delivered to a high standard first time
• Effectively juggles priorities.

Problem solving

… is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions

Level 2 indictors of effectiveness:

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully
• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems
• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving
• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems
• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving

Research and analysis

… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 2 indicators of effectiveness

• Proactively seeks new information sources to progress research agendas and address gaps in knowledge
• Grasps limitations of or assumptions behind data sources, disregarding those that lack quality
• Analyses and integrates qualitative and quantitative data to find new insights
• Translates research outcomes into concise, meaningful reports
• Identifies relevant and practical research questions for the future.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework.

This role is based at London Fire Brigade’s Head Office (169 Union Street SE1 0LL) 

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role.

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV 
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345).

Applications submitted without a Personal Statement will not be considered.

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. 

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.

Application closing date: 21 May 2024 at 23:59

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, please feel free to contact Celeste Giusti at [email protected] to arrange a call.

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice. 

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact [email protected].