4338 - Student Planner

Job summary

This advert is for year-long planning university student placements, to commence in summer 2027. There are multiple posts available. Applicants must be in enrolled on an RTPI accredited course.

Please note that this scheme is only open to undergraduate students currently in their second year of study, looking to undertake a year-long placement commencing Summer 2027 before returning to complete their degree OR to postgraduate students who have a year-long placement built into their postgraduate degree scheme which they are looking to undertake Summer 2027-Summer 2028. Graduates should not apply.

The Welsh Government is responsible for the development, oversight and implementation of the planning system in Wales, with different functions and responsibilities falling to the Planning Directorate and Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).

Job description

This role is an opportunity to learn and support the work of:

• the Planning Directorate in creating the legal and policy framework underpinning the land use planning system in Wales,
• PEDW in their independent role in implementing planning policy through their management of planning and related casework.

Opportunities for the planning student placement will be varied working on a 6-month rotation basis between the Planning Directorate and PEDW. When working in the Planning Directorate opportunities will be provided to work across the Directorate contributing to planning legislation, policy and procedural advice for the development plan and development management systems or the development of national planning policy. The time spent in PEDW will provide opportunities to learn the vast range of land-use casework undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Ministers including planning appeals, Local Development Plan Examinations, Significant Infrastructure Projects and a range of other specialist casework. In PEDW you will work with, and provide assistance to, Planning Inspectors, the Planning and Environment Team and the rest of the casework and business support teams to gain valuable experience in the implementation of the Planning System in Wales.

Person specification

Planning Directorate

• Support the work on the Consolidation of Planning Law.
• Assist senior officers with the development of policy and legislation for future changes and improvements to the development management system.
• Assist with scrutinising local development plans, including compliance with national planning policy, and attend meetings with local planning authorities regarding their progress on plan preparation.
• Input to professional advice on statutory planning casework for consideration by senior officers.
• Undertake research and other tasks to support the development of national planning policy including the ongoing review of the National Development Framework.
• Assist with monitoring the performance and improvement of local authority planning services.

PEDW

• Engage with Applicants, Appellants, Agents and other stakeholders to provide information and advice on the planning and environmental casework processed by PEDW.
• Attend on-line and in-person events, providing administrative support to Inspectors and other colleagues as required, assisting with logistics and responding to customer queries.
• Undertake research, prepare summary reports and other tasks to support PEDW’s casework and knowledge function
• Work with the Planning and Environment Team to assist with projects at different stages of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) looking at the environmental effects of developments including ecology and nature, marine ecology, soils, air quality, noise and vibration, water quality and resources, climate change, cultural heritage and archaeology, traffic and transport, landscape and visual and flood risk.

General to both

• Answering correspondence and providing draft advice on a wider range of land use planning issues, interpreting and applying current policy and relevant legislation as appropriate.
• To ensure that workload is undertaken in an efficient and effective manner maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction whilst carrying out the above duties.

To assist in other tasks in supporting the work of both the Planning Directorate and PEDW.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Knowledge of the town and country planning system in Wales.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:2 stage processStage 1Application FormStage 2Interview

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : PEDW.PlanningandEnvironment@gov.wales
• Email : PEDW.PlanningandEnvironment@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : ResourcingHub@gov.wales

Further information

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.