Salary: £31,016 - £33,088 per year pro rata
Hours: Part-time, 18 hours per week
Location: Hybrid/Livingston
Duration of contract: 12 months with possibility of extension
The Improvement Service is looking to recruit a part-time Planning Project Officer to work on the Planning Skills Programme and provide business support to Heads of Planning Scotland.
The post holder will be part of the Planning and Place Based Approaches Cluster, within the wider Transformation, Performance and Improvement team of the Improvement Service, and will provide project support on all elements of the work of the IS with planning and related services. This will be carried out through three key areas of work: the Planning Skills Programme, business support to the Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) and support to the Planning and Place Based Approaches Cluster.
The Planning Skills programme sits within the IS and supports councils, national park authorities and key agencies to improve the effectiveness of their planning service by:
* Identifying priority learning and development needs for staff and elected members
* Providing an event management services which facilitates training for planning authorities with various stakeholders
The Improvement Service also provides business support services to HOPS including communications and web support, policy support, and membership services. This includes the management of committee meetings and agendas for the HOPS committees. HOPS regularly engage with other key stakeholders in the planning sector in Scotland, including Scottish Government, RTPI Scotland, and Scotland’s Key Agencies.
Continued collaboration and information-sharing with HOPS will also be key to the work of Planning Project Officer.
The Planning and Place Based Approaches Cluster brings together four teams at the Improvement Service, united by a shared commitment: supporting local authorities and other partners to create places where people and communities can thrive.
The post-holder will also work in liaison with all IS staff and with stakeholders and partners across Scottish local and central government, other public sector bodies and relevant organisations. The post-holder will work in line management to the Planning for Place Programme Manager. Day-to-day operational arrangements will be managed by the Planning Project Manager.
This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate, early career professional, or the ideal role to give you experience alongside completing your planning masters.
Key Accountabilities
* Coordinate and provide administrative support to projects and programmes
* To contribute to the effective delivery of projects, undertaking a range of tasks
* Support preparation of a range of information, reports, briefing papers and presentations
* Assist in gathering information to support regular and accurate reporting on a variety of project activities, including risk and performance
* Advise management on matters requiring attention and implement management decisions, respond to enquiries and help resolve problems arising in projects
* To contribute to the effective maintenance of project communication activities including the promotion of products and services, activities associated with workshops and events organisation and facilitation and stakeholder communications
* To contribute to the work with Councils, other public sector organisations and stakeholders to strengthen partnership and collaborative working arrangements
* To capture and share knowledge, assisting in activities which deliver an effective approach to knowledge sharing and dissemination across the organisation, to partners and the wider public sector
* To assist in the production, organisation and dissemination of learning materials within the IS, to partners and the wider public sector.
Location: West Lothian Council Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6FF. It is anticipated that the role will involve a blended model of office and home working. This flexible approach will be agreed between employee and line manager.
Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension.
A competency-based interview will take place in-person at WLC Civic Centre on Tuesday 4 November 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be advised by email a week in advance of the interview.
The Improvement Service (IS) is a publicly funded company limited by guarantee, with a total annual budget in the region of £12 million. We exist to support councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all Scottish people through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high-quality, efficient local services.
Working for the IS means joining a team of professionals, who work together to strive for continuous improvement in the public sector and ultimately, better outcomes for Scotland’s communities.
Our company headquarters are based in West Lothian, located conveniently for commuters between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Pay is only one of the benefits of working for the IS, our terms and conditions are progressive and flexible and employees are rewarded with a generous annual leave entitlement of 41 days per year as well as a flexible working policy.
The IS is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all its activities to promote inclusive processes, practices and culture.
The IS is a Disability Confidence Committed Employer. We are committed to interviewing anyone with a disability who meets the essential criteria.
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