ID 3118
The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate's name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.
Vacancy details
Vacancy title
Planning Officer
Closing date
15/10/2025, 16:00
Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
£35,787
Salary range or pay band
HEO £35,787 to £43,759
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Corporate Services and Inspectorates
Directorate
Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW)
Branch
Planning and Environment Team
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
Purpose of post
PEDW is the division of the Welsh Government that processes planning appeals and associated casework on behalf of the Welsh Ministers. Planning Officers on the Planning and Environment team provide professional planning and environmental input and support on a wide range of activities including dealing with applications for major infrastructure applications, Local Development Plan (LDP) examinations, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and produces decisions or Reports on appropriate casework. The post holder will be required to effectively review evidence and produce soundly reasoned, impartial decisions, or recommendation reports to Welsh Ministers, that are expressed clearly and concisely in plain English. The post holder will also help to deliver PEDW's response to changes in policy, legislation and caselaw. The post holder will also develop their own subject matter expertise to increase capability, planning knowledge and resilience within the team.
Key tasks
Operational Delivery
* To lead and provide planning and environmental support on projects throughout the relevant major infrastructure consenting regimes determined by Welsh Ministers, including pre-application environmental advice to developers and other stakeholders.
* To act, with support, in assessing and responding to Applicants, other stakeholders, Inspectors and PEDW case teams on technical aspects of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA).
* To manage assigned projects and deliver core products such as; screening directions; scoping directions; Environmental Statement (ES) reviews; HRA reviews.
* To support and advise Inspectors, Appellants/Applicants and case officers on EIA matters relating to casework in making screening decisions writing Screening Directions, determining adequacy of Environmental Statements and with support making requests for further environmental information.
* Provide advice and support to Applicants/Appellants to ensure that technical information required for determining requests for EIA screening and scoping opinions for EIAs is robust and appropriate.
* To mentor others, supporting with their personal development objectives, providing coaching and other support including training in activities related to their role as required.
* Effectively evaluate and review evidence from all parties in relation to relevant casework, assimilate complex, opposing and contradictory written evidence in reaching planning judgments.
* Reach soundly reasoned impartial judgments, and report on your recommendations or make decisions on behalf of the Welsh Ministers which are evidence-based and expressed convincingly, and concisely in plain written English.
* Provide professional support for Local Development Plans including discrete tasks and/or support for Inspectors during the examination process such as initial scoping of plans, review and analysis of representations.
* Deliver allocated casework within time and quality standards.
* Support PEDW's response to changes in policy, legislation and caselaw, on request providing both structured and informal advice on new and emerging issues, across a full range of policy areas and casework types.
Draft complex technical advice for a range of professional decision-makers, ensuring it is accurate and legally compliant.
* Review updates to content of advice, ensuring accuracy, identifying any gaps in provision, and developing new content in response to business needs.
* Undertake specific research projects in areas of complex or novel casework.
* Develop own subject matter expertise of the application of policy and legislation to deliver increased capability and resilience within team and beyond.
* Provide content for training programmes and deliver this where required to case officers, Inspectors or stakeholders.
* Undertake post decision complaint investigations and considering claims for reimbursement under the organisation's policies, providing detailed reasoning and conclusions.
Team
* Build effective and supportive relationships within teams, across PEDW and with stakeholders. Work together with others to assist the delivery of organisational strategic objectives.
* Act as mentor and coach for others within the team to ensure team members receive appropriate professional development, and that talent is developed.
* Share process improvements and efficiency ideas and solutions to enhance team and organisational performance.
* Listen and act upon feedback and take responsibility for self-development.
* Be a role model for PEDW's Core Values.
* Ensure personal and organisational data is stored and managed in line with organisational policies and procedures.
Customer / Stakeholder relationships
* Promote the delivery of excellent customer service within teams.
* Establish and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
* Maintain and improve the organisation's planning and environmental service and manage important customer relationships including applicants and government agencies and departments, including attendance and participation at external events where necessary.
Development opportunities
The post holder will have the opportunity to expand and deepen their knowledge and understanding of the casework processed by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, including Infrastructure applications, planning appeals and other related casework.
Work with internal and external stakeholders to deliver an effective and timely service.
The post holder will be supported in undertaking CPD and training that strengthens their contribution to the team.
The post holder will benefit from experience of working in a focussed operational delivery environment, that processes casework that is directly related to the Programme for Government, i.e.
* Build a stronger, greener economy as we make maximum progress towards decarbonisation
* Embed our response to the climate and nature emergency in everything we do
* Make our cities, towns and villages even better places in which to live and work
Other vacancy related information
* Candidates must be a graduate in town and country planning or an appropriate environmental / land use discipline (e.g. environmental science, environmental impact assessment, landscape, ecology, air pollution management). Successful candidates must supply evidence of the relevant qualification at the onboarding stage.
* PEDW's Planning Officers are entitled to be reimbursed for the fees relating to the membership of a relevant professional body, for example the RTPI or ISEP (formerly IEMA).
* PEDW supports training and development for all our colleagues, with regular opportunities for continuous professional development throughout the year. This is provided with a range of in-house and external training resources and Planning Officers are encouraged to take time during their working week to spend on professional development.
* The role may require occasional overnight stays, for example to attend training events or conferences.
* A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
* In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion (for the sift, Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment / interview.
Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
3
Contact point for further information regarding the post
or Robert Sparey