Planning Policy Support Officer

Job summary We are MHCLG This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced team at the heart of the department’s high-profile planning reforms. Planning is a key Ministerial priority to unlock growth and deliver the homes, infrastructure and environmental outcomes communities need. The planning system has a critical role in supporting climate mitigation and adaptation, enabling renewable and low carbon energy, managing flood risk and water infrastructure pressures, and ensuring development contributes to sustainable growth.

The role sits within the Environment and Sustainability Planning team in the Planning Policy Division. The successful candidate will work closely with policy teams across the Planning Directorate, playing an important role in supporting the smooth running of the team’s work. The role will focus primarily on secretariat and coordination functions, including managing correspondence, supporting briefing for Ministers and senior officials, keeping standard lines up to date, and working across the department to coordinate high-quality returns to commissions.

There will also be opportunities to support policy development, including by helping to gather evidence, understanding stakeholder views and contribute to policy products. We are a friendly, supportive and collaborative team made up of a mix of professional planners and generalist civil servants. This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop strong drafting, coordination, briefing and stakeholder engagement skills while building an understanding of planning policy in an area of growing national importance.

Job description The role will involve: Support the team’s correspondence and briefing functions, including helping to draft responses to ministerial, parliamentary and stakeholder correspondence, preparing briefing material, and ensuring standard lines are accurate, consistent and up to date. Coordinate returns to commissions that come into the team, working with colleagues across the Planning Directorate, the department and wider Whitehall to gather input, track deadlines and help ensure replies are clear, accurate and delivered to a high standard.

Help the team maintain a clear and consistent handling position on key issues by updating lines to take, drawing together background material and ensuring briefing products reflect the latest agreed policy position. Support engagement with teams across government and, where appropriate, external stakeholders by coordinating comments, summarising views and helping ensure relevant evidence and issues are reflected in advice and correspondence.

Provide flexible support across the team as priorities evolve, including helping colleagues manage trackers, commissions and other coordination tasks that support effective delivery. Support policy development including by helping to collate evidence, review existing material, summarise stakeholder views and contribute to updates to planning documents such as Planning Practice Guidance. Develop an understanding of how planning policy is interpreted and applied, while building practical experience in drafting, coordination, stakeholder engagement and working across government Person specification We are looking for candidates with the following skills: An ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely to a range of audiences.

Strong drafting skills, including the ability to produce high-quality written material at pace. Strong team working skills and the ability to maintain good working relationships with a wide range of teams. Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines. Self-motivation, resilience and the ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment. Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

An interest in planning, climate change and sustainable development, and a willingness to develop expertise in these areas. Benefits Alongside your salary of