A rare opportunity to work in the National Landscape of the High Weald helping to balance the needs of development with the protection and enhancement of our historic and natural environment. The postholder will be involved in strategic and sensitive planning applications involving historic Parks and Garden, ancient woodland, and sites designated for landscape and wildlife conservation in rural and urban settlements.  There will be opportunities to shape policy, work with key stakeholders, partnerships and elected Members and where required commission and manage consultants. Do you have a landscape qualification and are you interested in the historical and natural environment? Are you looking to develop your skills and gain new qualifications? Are you willing to share your knowledge, engage with others and offer a critical opinion? If the answer is yes to all of these then this may be the role for you. Tunbridge Wellsisa great place to live, do business and visit. The Council has a clear, coherent, and powerful vision for the future set out in ourStrategic Planwhich sets out the priorities for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. We have a flexible approach throughout our Planning Service, which is to support staff as they develop, providing opportunities to broaden and deepen their experience and skills to progress their career. This role sits within the Planning Policy Team and will work alongside the Principal Landscape and Biodiversity Officer to assist and advise the Planning Service on development management and planning policy matters, and corporately across the Council on landscape and biodiversity matters and specific projects as required. We are interested in hearing from positive, enthusiastic, and conscientious candidates with excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills; you will be well organised and able to work on your own initiative and as part of a team. The Council has been at the forefront in the production of biodiversity policies and guidance and has a new, emerging Local Plan currently at Examination, with adoption anticipated late spring. Once the Local Plan is adopted, the Council will begin work on a Local Plan Review. We are also in the early stages of preparing a Town Centre Plan for Royal Tunbridge Wells; the postholder will be involved with both of these, providing specialist landscape and biodiversity advice to planning colleagues to inform development strategy and policies relating to landscape and biodiversity matters, and be involved with undertaking and commissioning evidence base work. Benefits include flexible, hybrid working, 26 days annual leave (increasing to 29 days after 5 years continuous Local Government service and 34 days after 30 years continuous Local Government service), plus additional time in December when the Council closes between Christmas and New Year.  Membership of the Local Government (CARE – Career Average (Revalued Earnings) Pension Scheme, Membership of professional body, as well as invaluable training opportunities for continuing professional development and free town centre parking.  To find out more take a look at the Job Description and Person Specification below.  For an informal discussion about this post, you can contact Ellen Gilbert, Planning Policy Manager on 01892 554059 or emailellen.gilbert@tunbridgewells.gov.uk, or David Scully, Principal Landscape and Biodiversity Officer on 01892 554072 or emaildavid.scully@tunbridgewells.gov.uk To stay up to date with our latest vacancies and what it’s like to work here you can follow us on twitter @TWBC_Jobs and LinkedIn @TWellsCouncil   Closing Date:               Midnight 31stMarch               Interview Dates:         W/C 7thApril