Digital Planning Officer

Come and work for a rewarding organisation, joining our friendly, and supportive Planning Development Team as we progress along our Open Digital Planning journey, to support the modernisation of the local planning service by combining planning knowledge with digital, data and service improvement skills. The role will help deliver user focused digital tools, improve the quality of planning data, streamline processes and support officers and stakeholders to use digital systems effectively., To assist with the testing and implementation of changes in the Planning service, bringing about significant improvements in the delivery of the service, ensuring that it is effective, high quality and customer focused. Work with planning officers, ICT, customer services, GIS, data teams, software suppliers and external partners to coordinate system changes and service improvements. Prepare guidance, training materials and briefing notes to help colleagues adopt new systems and digital ways of working. Represent the Council internally and externally on digital planning projects ensuring that the Council's interests are appropriately secured

This role is ideal for someone with knowledge of the UK planning system, experience working in a Planning team and with an interest in digital transformation to secure better and more accessible services to customers. Ideally you will have experience of working with planning application and document management systems and have a good understanding of GIS and map based systems. You will need to be well organised, have good problem solving skills , and be confident in communicating technical details to colleagues and external stakeholders., It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.

We are a dynamic local authority providing essential services to the people of Gloucester. Our main office, based in the Eastgate Centre on Eastgate Street in the heart of the city, is an accessible, modern and light space designed for collaborative working and finding new ways to work. It's all open plan, with a living green wall and other plants without set desks, so you can sit next to someone new every day. We're always looking to improve how we work and we offer flexible and agile working to give our people a great work life balance. Gloucester is a member of The Open Digital Planning community which brings together council officers, digital specialists, and technical experts, all working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to shape the next generation of local government planning services and improve planning processes.

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities
• Generous Annual Leave entitlement
• An option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• 2 days paid leave every year to participate in local volunteering activities
• Excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) & Life Cover of 3 times your salary
• Regular training, career development and qualification opportunities
• Supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone, and in an in-house Occupational Health service
• Enhanced family friendly leave and pay
• Cycle to Work scheme (Salary Sacrifice - T & C apply)
• Employee discount scheme
• Discounted tickets for local events, and reduced rate use of GL1 facilities
• Free Flu-jabs
• Access to employee led networks such as Black Worker's, Prism (LGBT+), Carers, Disability and the Young Employees Network, and opportunities to participate in our Equalities Working Group.