Job Title: Highways Development Management Officer
Location: Hybrid smart working with base at County Hall, Hertford
Salary Range: £33,820 + £3,441 market enhancement, with the opportunity to progress to a maximum of £37,261 + £3,217 market enhancement
Hours: 37 per week (opportunities for part-time working will be considered)
Contract: Permanent

Diversity: We are an inclusive employer and value a diverse workforce 

Job Duties:

Hertfordshire truly is the County of Opportunity. Housing growth in the County is presently anticipated to a level of 100,000 homes. An exciting opportunity has arisen for Transport planners/Engineers with a focus on providing highway responses to consultations on planning applications to join our Highways Development Management Team. As part of the Whole Client Service team including WSP/Arup you will work closely with officers reviewing and assessing impacts on the highway network, which result from proposed developments and providing formal responses to the Local Planning Authorities. Great communication skills will be particularly useful in this role as you will interact on a daily basis with a wide range of stakeholders including district council planning officers, developers and their transport consultants, as well as Councilors and colleagues.

The role will involve:

• Considering, evaluating and reporting upon the transport implications of Minor and Major planning applications, mostly 1-99 dwellings and small retail, informally at pre-application stage and formally as part of the statutory response period when submitted
• Ensuring that all assessments and responses of planning applications comprehensively consider sustainable travel issues, and that where appropriate, mitigation measures are secured and implemented
• Providing support to the process of negotiating with developers and their consultants on contributions to transportation infrastructure arising from development proposals and ensure these are properly secured through the completion of appropriate legal agreements
• Contribute local development management intelligence to the production of spatial transport strategies
• Representing the County Council at meetings with private sector partners, district council Planning Departments and at appeals (written reps/informal)
• Supporting and contributing to the continued improvement of the team’s performance

This role is a fantastic opportunity for an individual with relevant experience to further their knowledge in the highways sector where you will be considering development proposals involving local schemes and making Hertfordshire cleaner, greener and more sustainable.

Key benefits of the role include:

• Opportunity to be involved with shaping future highway infrastructure provision to support the Government’s growth agenda at a local level
• Working with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver a quality service
• Gain an understanding of planning and highway law, including the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 and Highways Act 1980

Further Information

To apply for the role, you will need:

• A degree in Civil Engineering, Transport Planning, Geography, Environmental, or equivalent experience
• Clear, decisive and persuasive communication skills, both written and verbal, demonstrating the ability to adjust to the target audience
• Ability to work effectively and competently with people at all levels in the organisation
• Effective time management and strong organisational skills
• Ability to work to deadlines, independently and see tasks through to completion
• An understanding of transport related and regeneration issues, knowledge of the development planning process
• Traffic and transportation design familiarity/experience
• Good appreciation of the political context within which the service operates

Are you interested in a career in highways and transportation planning, and do you have a desire to influence sustainable development and ensuring the impacts of growth are well managed? If yes, we would like to hear from you. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a challenging but rewarding role.

Closing Date: Tuesday 3rd January 2023
Interview Date: Wednesday 11th - Friday 13th January 2023

For an informal discussion and more information please contact: Manjinder Sehmi Manjinder.Sehmi@hertfordshire.gov.uk or Rosemary Chatindo Rosemary.Chatindo@hertfordshire.gov.uk