Role purpose

This role involves leading on conservation matters for the Strategic Planning service, helping the Planning & Building Control directorate, and the council, to care for the historic environment and shape future development proposals. The Borough Conservation Officer will also play an important role in contributing to the delivery and interpretation of the council’s Local Plan policies.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibilities for this position include providing conservation advice in relation to major, complex development proposals. It also involves leading on conservation related projects and initiatives. Successful candidates will require a thorough understanding of planning legislation and policy relating to the historic environment and significant experience of holding pre-application discussions with developers and their agents and working on planning applications. Strong organisational and project management skills are also essential.    

You will be required to communicate effectively and confidently with internal and external colleagues and engage with senior officers of the council and Members, and Tower Hamlets communities.

Requirements

This post will require eligibility for membership of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation or the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Additional employee information

The council is looking to fill the role permanently on a full-time basis, although we may consider a part-time arrangement. 

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate experience in inputting into development schemes with strong technical knowledge of conservation and the historic environment. This should include experience of planning appeals, ideally appearing as an expert witness at public inquiries. Candidates should also demonstrate a proven ability to support or lead on high profile plan making projects and initiatives, as well as establishing strong partnerships within and outside the council. You will need to be ambitious, motivated and ready to manage challenging strategic projects.

For an informal discussion please contact the Place Shaping Manager, Michael Ritchie on michael.ritchie@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Applications close on Sunday 24th November 2024, and interviews will take place w/c 02nd December 2024 and w/c 09th December 2024.

Tower Hamlets is a modern, forward thinking local authority, offering flexible working arrangements, generous annual leave, local government pension scheme and other staff benefits.

Tower Hamlets vision for our borough is that: people are aspirational, independent and have equal access to opportunities; we are a borough that our residents are proud of and love to live in; and we are a dynamic, outcomes-based council using digital innovation and partnership working to respond to the changing needs of our borough. We want people who aspire to our TOWER values: Together; Open; Willing; Excellent; Respect.

Tower Hamlets has a zero-tolerance approach to, and works to eradicate, all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, status as a civil partner, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and maternity and looks to employ a diverse workforce representative of those groups. We recognise that people can also be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class.

We welcome applicants interested in flexible working arrangements and also applicants who live in the borough. 

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