Conservation Officer (Maternity Cover)

This is an opportunity to join a shared Specialist Team within a busy and forward looking planning service. You’ll champion the historic environment within the planning service, wider council services and the community. You’ll also assist in providing effective professional advice on listed buildings and heritage assets as well as helping to facilitate informed decisions by ensuring that officers and councillors are appraised of issues and receive relevant, up-to-date advice.

Conservation Officer Responsibilities:

• 
  To provide specialist advice on applications for Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission across all types of designated and non-designated heritage assets.
• To prepare and write formal comments and observations for committee and delegated reports, appeal statements and other specialist reports as directed.
• To provide specialist advice on matters relating to the repair and conservation of listed buildings to internal and external customers.
• To undertake unaccompanied site visits in order to assess proposals, provide pre-application advice, enforcement advice and respond to urgent issues with Building Control Officers. This will include working with internal colleagues, external customers, members of the public, Local Councillors, Agents, Contractors, and other relevant Specialists.
• To assist and undertake planning and listed building appeals including appearing at hearings as an expert witness for both councils.
• Assisting in the checking and validating of applications including liaising with agents/applicants to identify where more information is required.
• Assisting with enforcement investigations and action where appropriate.
• To assist with the development of conservation and design policies, guidance, and advice as appropriate.
• To assist with the delivery of Conservation Area Appraisal and Boundary Reviews.
• To represent the Conservation Team at internal and external meetings as appropriate and participate in public consultation programmes and events including public speaking and presentation of proposals at public meetings.
• To keep abreast of new legislation and guidance of relevance to conservation and design of the built environment as well as the interpretation of it in appeals and case law.
• To deputise for other conservation colleagues if required and assist colleagues with background information on complex applications, appeal and enforcement matters and any other duties commensurate with the post.
• A flexible approach to hours of work which may include evenings to assist with service events or training, public consultation, and attendance at committee meetings.

Conservation Officer Requirements:

• 
  Excellent communication skills (written and oral), with the ability to communicate ideas and information clearly with an excellent customer focus.
• Able to work under pressure, meet deadlines and contribute to targets with a team focus.
• Innovative and creative approach to work and solution focussed.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.
• Good IT skills and experienced in the use of the Microsoft suite.
• Good knowledge of English architectural history and building construction and an ability to recognise common defects and assist with devising appropriate preservation, repair, and enhancement solutions for historic buildings and a desire to keep knowledge up to

date.

• Understanding of relevant planning legislation and a desire to keep knowledge up to date, maintaining a high level of competency to deal with changing legislation.
• Ability to research concepts and projects with minimal supervision.
• Ability to interpret scale drawings and Ordnance Survey maps.

Your essential qualifications

• 
  A degree or diploma in Historic Building Conservation or a relevant discipline or studying for a degree level qualification and/or equivalent level of experience.
• Full Membership of eligibility for full membership of relevant professional body, for example IHBC
• At least three year’s post qualification experience of working in a planning environment, particularly in a conservation role.
• Hold a Full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle, insured for business use.
• You will be required to live within a reasonable commuting distance to the districts. Although the councils offer hybrid working arrangements, due to the requirement to attend reactive site visits living within a reasonable commuting distance is an essential requirement.

If you have the following experience – it’s a bonus

• 
  Experience of project management.
• Experience of Graphic Information Systems (GIS).
• Conservation Craft Skills or other relevant Heritage Skills

About South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils:

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are forward-thinking local authorities, based in one of the most attractive areas of the country. They are looking for a professional, competent and enthusiastic person who can communicate well at all levels. An excellent benefits package is on offer including annualised hours (flexible working) and a career average pension scheme.

Location: Home/Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Type: Fixed Term 12 Months (Maternity Cover)

Hours: Full Time (37 hours per week)

Salary: £37,891-£43,191 per year, Grade 6