Future Growth Planner

Closing Date

Job Title: Future Growth Planner - fixed term maternity cover

Location: Durrington – Hybrid 2-3 days per week

Contract Type: Fixed Term 12 months

Hours: 37 hours per week (Can consider part time)

Salary: up to £35,000 – depending on skills and experience

There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint

Job Overview

This fantastic new opportunity has become available at Southern Water for a position in the Future Growth Planning Team. The role will be to support the Senior Future Growth Planner in engaging with local planning authorities and developers on their housing growth needs.

• As the Future Growth Planner you will proactively engage with customers and stakeholders to assist them through their application process for their development and oversee Capacity Checks/Pre-Planning enquiries of existing public sewers/water mains.

• You will liaise with developers regarding connections, capacity issues, as well as engaging with Local Planning Authorities on planning application responses and review discharge of planning conditions from planning applications.

• Proactive engagement with local authorities, developers and other stakeholders to help Southern Water plan for the future.

• Where applicable, working with local authorities to influence planning policy that promotes sustainable development and allows for the occupancy of developments to be phased in line with upgrades to our infrastructure.

• Ensuring customer satisfaction, resolving issues and ensuring that services provided meet the needs of the customer.

• Manage the relationship with our service partners for application management, ensuring they are up to date with business & regulatory policies and procedures.

• You will liaise with developers regarding connections, capacity issues, as well as engaging with Local Planning Authorities on planning application responses and review discharge of planning conditions from planning applications.

About You

The successful candidate for this role will need to have strong organisational, communication and engagement skills with underpinning knowledge of planning. Are you someone that has the continuous drive and willingness to learn new things? Do you have meticulous attention to detail? Maybe you have worked in the utilities industry before, planning services, have worked on developments at the planning stage or you have experience in asset strategy. If you have these qualities and this role sounds appealing to you, we would love to receive your application.

Skills and Experience

• You will have planning experience, appreciating the needs of developers and infrastructure companies such as water companies.

• You will liaise with developers regarding connections, capacity issues, as well as engaging with Local Planning Authorities on planning application responses and review discharge of planning conditions from planning applications.

• Hold a Degree in town & country planning, environmental or engineering science, engineering, town planning (desirable or equivalent) or relevant experience.

• Flexibility and independence with an ability to contribute to overcoming problems and develop creative solutions.

• Research skills, able to bring together a range of information to contribute to a clear plan

• Experience of working in a regulated industry to meet strict service levels and achieve strategic objectives.

• Good understanding of Southern Water's obligations, requirements and strategic objectives under Water UKs Levels of Service and D-MeX. Interpersonal skills to create strong relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders

• You will liaise with developers regarding connections, capacity issues, as well as engaging with Local Planning Authorities on planning application responses and review discharge of planning conditions from planning applications.

Package

This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach to working between our Durrington office and home.  We are offering a salary of up to £35,000 per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:

• Company and performance-related bonus

• Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution

• Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary

• Health benefits through a Cash Plan

• Two paid community volunteering days a year

• 25 days annual holiday

• Occupational health service

• Stars benefits portal offering discounts and savings on several products and experiences

• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications

• We offer competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options

Join our Future Growth team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.

Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that 'normal' office hours aren't possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

Privacy Statement:

Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.