West Suffolk Council, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU
Senior Urban Design Officer
* £39,513 - £44,711 per annum
* Full time
* Permanent
* Reference: R1618
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and creative Urban Design Officer to contribute to the well-rounded and knowledgeable Planning Strategy team. Working within the wider team, you will provide specialist design advice and prepare policies on all aspects of urban design and place-making. You will be a key player in the council’s aim to improve the quality of the built environment across the district.
About the team we are recruiting to
Planning is about making the best use of land and making places where people want to live, work and play. Through the preparation and implementation of land use planning policies and guidance, our work unlocks growth, contributing significantly towards our corporate objectives, and strives to protect and improve the built and natural environment.
The team specialisms include Ecology, Building Conservation, Landscape, Urban Design and Planning Policy. The professional expertise in the wider service and council makes it a great place to work, with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge.
What you will need:
* an appropriate qualification in urban design, architecture or related discipline and experience of working in an urban design role
* a good understanding of current legislation, policy, guidance and best practice including current trends and issues in urban design
* the ability to generate innovative and deliverable solutions
* good problem-solving skills and a creative, collaborative approach
* excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective teamwork, client and stakeholder engagement, both written and spoken, together with the ability to analyse and present information clearly and effectively
* proficient in using IT
* ability to work independently, manage time, workload and tight deadlines while remaining focused, calm and professional willingness to learn and share knowledge.
Please refer to the job description and person specification for full details of this exciting opportunity.
Why work for us? Our benefits include:
* annual leave entitlement of 25 days per annum (pro rata if part time) plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days plus bank holidays after 5 years’ service (with an option to buy up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year subject to approval)
* a generous pension scheme (LGPS) including life assurance (a payment of three times your annual salary)
* flexible working options to enable work/life balance agile working (ability to work in the office and from home) with work being an activity we do, not a place we go
* access to a unique employee benefits package which includes discounts and cashback on supermarkets, high street shops, holidays, mobile phones, electrical goods, savings and loan schemes and many other products and services salary sacrifice benefits including Cycle to Work scheme, Tusker Leased Car Scheme and SmartTech (buy the latest tech products interest free and spread the cost over your salary).
* rail and bus staff discounts
* a range of Health and Wellbeing initiatives including an employee assistance programme
* discounted membership at Abbeycroft Leisure centres
* a culture of learning inspiring staff to focus on continuous learning
* modern office accommodation.
To find out more:
For an informal discussion and further information please contact Christine Leveson, Principal Building Conservation Officer, at: chris.leveson@westsuffolk.gov.uk or on 01284 757356.
Alternatively, please find downloadable copies of the Job Description (pdf), Person Specification (pdf) and Core Values (pdf) .
How to apply:
To apply, please visit our website at: https://jobs.westsuffolk.gov.uk/ce0961li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=8086647Gt2&WVID=2862770hWe
Closing date: 31 March 2025.
Interview date: 8 April 2025.
West Suffolk Council has been rated in the top 10 councils for climate action and as a member of UK100 has demonstrated its commitment to a rapid transition to Net Zero with Clean Air in our communities. The council has declared a climate and biodiversity emergency and is committed to working towards net zero emissions by 2030.