Conservation Officer

Reading Borough Council offers more than just your next job. It’s a place where you can shape your career and we will ensure that you have every opportunity available to you to progress. This includes regular performance appraisals and feedback from your line manager, supporting you to develop your skills and experience.

Reading has played a significant role in the nation’s history and has a legacy of considerable heritage assets, but at the same time is a vibrant town subject to considerable development growth that can place pressure on those assets as well as provide an opportunity to better preserve and reveal those assets.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

This post is an exciting opportunity to join our Planning service as Reading’s Conservation Officer, and play a key role in shaping how the historic environment of Reading informs the Borough’s future development and change. You will be within the Planning Policy team.

In the role, you will provide conservation advice to the Development Management team on planning applications and pre-application enquiries. You will also be responsible for considering additions to the list of locally-important buildings, as well as engaging with the community on changes to conservation areas. In addition, there will be involvement in planning enforcement on historic buildings, and assisting other services within the Council to best conserve assets in our ownership.

You’ll be part of a team where each individual plays their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

About you

Qualities and Experience required for this role:

• You will have a degree or NVQ level 6 in Planning, Urban Design, Conservation or related area;
• You will be eligible for membership of a relevant professional organisation
• You will have experience in working on heritage matters, including dealing with developers and landowners
• You will be able to demonstrate good written and verbal communication skills;
• You will be able to demonstrate an organised approach to managing your own workload under pressure
• You will be able to show that you can get results through negotiation and working on your own initiative;
• You will have thorough knowledge of conservation legislation and practice.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 24 days holiday each year plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact:

Mark.Worringham@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: 12th June 2023

Interview Date: TBC

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.