Planning and Policy Officer Maidstone, England
Job description
Globally and nationally wildlife is in steep decline. We appear to be reaching critical tipping points around the loss of biodiversity as well as around climate change, both being interlinked. Human society cannot prosper without wildlife and healthy ecosystems.
Kent’s wildlife needs to be restored to much higher levels. We can no longer allow common things to become rare. We can only do this by restoring large-scale habitat from degraded land. Doing this will contribute to solving global problems. But we won’t be able to do this unless we publicly aspire to a higher level of impact and show that we can deliver this.
The Job:
Do you have a keen interest in and knowledge of the planning system? Do you care deeply about wildlife and the natural environment and want to make a difference at both a local, county and a national scale?
Development is one of the biggest threats to wildlife across Kent, however increased and improved infrastructure and housing is identified as being essential for economic and social growth. Kent experiences significant development pressure with substantial areas of brownfield, rural land and natural green space being allocated for development as strategic sites in Local Plans, as windfall sites and as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
Whilst development can prove devastating for wildlife, it can also bring opportunities to improve the situation for wildlife across Kent. We are looking for a self-motivated, enthusiastic Officer to join the fast-paced Planning and Policy team, which is seeking to become more efficient, allowing us to be more proactive in the way we engage with the planning system. We need your skills, experience, and fresh outlook to help to define the way that we engage with planning authorities, developers and community groups to meet our Wilder Kent Vision.
Planning issues are often the catalyst for bringing community groups together with these groups often looking beyond the initial development threat to wider nature recovery within their local area. These achievements are celebrated through the Wilder Kent Awards, with the award for Villages, Towns and Cities being in its first year. This role will sit within the Conservation Department, and due to the cross-cutting nature of the work will involve working with colleagues from across the organisation and with external partners.
KWT has a long history of responding to planning application consultations and our members and local planning authorities value our expertise. A key aspect of this role will be driving forward a process of streamlining our approach to dealing with planning consultations and enquiries. By working with colleagues, external partners you will create guidance which allow us to increase our reach. We need to create a network of members who feel empowered to give nature a voice through the planning system. This will allow the Planning and Policy Team to focus on and respond to consultations on the most damaging applications across Kent, providing technical advice to developers and planning authorities.
You:
This role will require excellent attention to detail and communication skills to give Kent a voice within consultations on national planning policy and legislation, supporting the Planning and Policy Manager in ensuring that Kent specific issues are addressed. Similarly, you will influence local planning policies, and pave the way for Kent Wildlife Trust to be more proactive when influencing policy at a strategic level. This role will be vital for influencing Local Development Plans, Green Infrastructure Strategies, the development of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and the implementation of biodiversity net gain. Kent Wildlife Trust plays a key role in the Kent Nature Partnership, including the biodiversity net gain implementation group and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy group.
This role provides opportunity to be at the forefront of tackling the greatest development threats to biodiversity, not only in Kent but nationally. For over last two years Kent Wildlife Trust has been working with a partnership of wildlife charities to protect the Swanscombe Peninsula from being destroyed by the London Resort theme park, which is designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This application is expected to be resubmitted later this year, as will the Lower Thames Crossing, amongst others. The successful candidate will draw on the knowledge of Kent’s wildlife and the planning system to support the Planning and Policy Manager in ensuring that wildlife is protected through the NSIP process.
This post would suit an individual with a good understanding and demonstrable experience of working to protect the environment through the planning system, both at a strategic policy level and through individual planning applications. The role will require a demonstrable understanding of UK natural history, ecology and nature conservation as well as current policy relating to the natural environment. This role would suit a candidate who has experience working with a range of stakeholders, including community groups, private companies and local government and is confident communicating in a variety of audiences through different media.
Hybrid (office and home) working available.
Kent Wildlife Trust is the leading wildlife charity for Kent and Medway, supported by its members and staffed by committed professionals. Join our team and help us create a Wilder Kent! In return we will inspire you, listen to you, value you, treat you equally and fairly, look after your health and wellbeing and encourage flexibility from day one, enabling you to draw on these benefits to be a better, happier and more productive you.
