Green Access Development Assistant
| Posting date: | 16 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £27,711 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 May 2025 |
| Location: | Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX |
| Company: | Suffolk County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 19064 |
Summary
- Suffolk County Council - Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX - Hybrid
- £27,711 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
- Permanent
Develop Your Career in Active Travel!
Suffolk’s green access service is recruiting to its new planning team. The team leads the council’s response to planning consultations, from minor ones up to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). The new team will build on our successes, for example, a £2.8m pot to improve green access now the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station starts.
Green access includes 5,700km of public rights of way (PRoW), open access, and informal routes to enable moving about on foot, bicycle, wheelchair, or horseback. It covers access to green space but also relates to accessing services, workplaces, and schools, whether on PRoW or the road network. Green access is especially relevant to sustainable transport, health, and wellbeing.
Our vision is “To get more people using and enjoying Suffolk’s green access network.”
Your role and responsibilities
In this role, you will get to both support the green access planning team and respond to smaller-scale planning consultations. You will help build partnerships and work with a wide range of stakeholders to make sure green access is protected where there are new developments and walking, cycling, and wheeling are prioritised to enhance the PRoW and walking and cycling network.
An important part of the role is managing budget and project databases to ensure the high volume of consultations and responses are tracked.
We need someone who really cares about improving green access and sustainable travel in Suffolk. You will liaise with colleagues in the council’s planning teams, other planners, developers, and stakeholders outside the council.
This role can improve lives by giving people more opportunities for healthy active travel. You will need to see the bigger picture in creating those opportunities.
You will need
- some understanding of planning law and the impact of development on green access and PRoW and experience in managing databases and providing support services to colleagues
- strong team skills and very good communication skills, both written and verbal. You will be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to making walking, cycling, and wheeling the first choice of travel, whether on roads or the green access network.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
Our Rights of Way and Access team sits within the Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure directorate. We oversee Suffolk's green access and public rights of way network. Our priorities are outlined in the Suffolk Green Access Strategy 2020-2030 vision, please take a look suffolk-green-access-strategy-2020-2030
Empowering Everyone
We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact David Falk (Development and Improvement Manager), or Sam Bye (Planning Manager - Green Access) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 341524 for David or 01473 260429 for Sam.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (docx).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Share an example of when you had to speak in front of, or at, a meeting where you wanted to influence people to implement an improvement to a project you were working on. What techniques did you use and were you successful?
2. What experience do you have with green access issues and overcoming barriers to accessing the natural environment? Can you provide an example of how you addressed these challenges?
3. Give us an example of when you had to research or gather evidence on a complex issue in order to make a recommendation or write a report. What kind of analysis did you do and what was the outcome?
4. Describe a situation when you had to coordinate and manage several projects at the same time with competing priorities or deadlines. How did you prioritise your work and manage your time? What was the result?
Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing: recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 29 May 2025.
Interview date: 10 and 12 June 2025.
Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
- £27,711 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
- Permanent
Develop Your Career in Active Travel!
Suffolk’s green access service is recruiting to its new planning team. The team leads the council’s response to planning consultations, from minor ones up to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). The new team will build on our successes, for example, a £2.8m pot to improve green access now the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station starts.
Green access includes 5,700km of public rights of way (PRoW), open access, and informal routes to enable moving about on foot, bicycle, wheelchair, or horseback. It covers access to green space but also relates to accessing services, workplaces, and schools, whether on PRoW or the road network. Green access is especially relevant to sustainable transport, health, and wellbeing.
Our vision is “To get more people using and enjoying Suffolk’s green access network.”
Your role and responsibilities
In this role, you will get to both support the green access planning team and respond to smaller-scale planning consultations. You will help build partnerships and work with a wide range of stakeholders to make sure green access is protected where there are new developments and walking, cycling, and wheeling are prioritised to enhance the PRoW and walking and cycling network.
An important part of the role is managing budget and project databases to ensure the high volume of consultations and responses are tracked.
We need someone who really cares about improving green access and sustainable travel in Suffolk. You will liaise with colleagues in the council’s planning teams, other planners, developers, and stakeholders outside the council.
This role can improve lives by giving people more opportunities for healthy active travel. You will need to see the bigger picture in creating those opportunities.
You will need
- some understanding of planning law and the impact of development on green access and PRoW and experience in managing databases and providing support services to colleagues
- strong team skills and very good communication skills, both written and verbal. You will be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to making walking, cycling, and wheeling the first choice of travel, whether on roads or the green access network.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
Our Rights of Way and Access team sits within the Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure directorate. We oversee Suffolk's green access and public rights of way network. Our priorities are outlined in the Suffolk Green Access Strategy 2020-2030 vision, please take a look suffolk-green-access-strategy-2020-2030
Empowering Everyone
We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact David Falk (Development and Improvement Manager), or Sam Bye (Planning Manager - Green Access) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 341524 for David or 01473 260429 for Sam.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (docx).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Share an example of when you had to speak in front of, or at, a meeting where you wanted to influence people to implement an improvement to a project you were working on. What techniques did you use and were you successful?
2. What experience do you have with green access issues and overcoming barriers to accessing the natural environment? Can you provide an example of how you addressed these challenges?
3. Give us an example of when you had to research or gather evidence on a complex issue in order to make a recommendation or write a report. What kind of analysis did you do and what was the outcome?
4. Describe a situation when you had to coordinate and manage several projects at the same time with competing priorities or deadlines. How did you prioritise your work and manage your time? What was the result?
Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing: recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 29 May 2025.
Interview date: 10 and 12 June 2025.
Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.