Student Planner

Job description

Planners shape the future – If you are open to new challenges and want to join a profession dedicated to making better places, this may be the role for you.

The Future Planners Programme will give you a unique opportunity to blend employment and post graduate study across a 23 month period. At the end of programme, you will be well on your way to becoming a qualified planner.

During this 23 month period you will be deployed across the Scottish Government’s consenting regimes as a Student Planner to support Ministers with fulfilling their statutory responsibilities for the operation of the planning system. This includes supporting Planners and other officials in the processing of planning and energy applications and appeals and providing briefing and information to the Scottish Ministers. By helping to accelerate planning and consenting, Student Planners will be supporting development delivery, helping to address the housing and climate emergencies, driving economic growth and making Scotland more attractive to investors.

You will rotate to work within 3 parts of SG: Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate (PARD), Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) and Energy Consents Unit (ECU). You will benefit from a range of learning and development activities with a focus on personal and professional development to complement their academic study and work experience.

Responsibilities

Working flexibly across the Directorate for Planning Architecture and Regeneration, Planning and Environmental Appeals Division and Energy Consents Unit to:

· Help process planning and energy applications and appeals, from validation through to assessment and decision.

· Provide initial screening, scoping, assessment and consultation for Environmental Impact Assessment.

· Assisting planners and other officials to interpret national policy to help inform decisions.

· Identifying appropriate engagement platforms and assisting in the delivery of a variety of consultation techniques to support policy delivery.

· Prepare initial briefing packs and help compile information for Scottish Ministers to respond to a range of external requests and general enquiries.

· Undertake an accredited planning post graduate degree course.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree with a grade of 2:2 Honours Degree.

Students due to complete their undergraduate degree in spring/summer 2025 are eligible to apply, but must be on track to achieve a 2:2 or above.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience:

Candidates should have experience of analysing, assessing and presenting complex information from a range of sources and varying viewpoints.

Behaviours:

· Communicating and Influencing – Level 2

· Working Together – Level 2

· Seeing the Big Picture – Level 2

· Delivering at Pace – Level 2

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/pages/behaviour-levels/

How to apply

Apply online, providing a Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

The assessment process will consist of the following stages:

Stage 1: Online Application – 750 word Supporting Statement.

Stage 2: Initial Assessment.

Stage 3: Interview and a Written Exercise.

Stage 4: Offers, University Applications and Pre-Employment Checks.

Once you have submitted your online application you will be contacted with further information on the initial assessment. This will be sent before the closing date of the advert.

Interviews are scheduled for w/c 21/04/25 and w/c 28/04/25 however this may be subject to change.

About Us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working Pattern

This is a full time programme on a fixed term appointment of 23 months. As part of the role, candidates will study on a post graduate planning course at either the University of Dundee, University of Glasgow or Heriot Watt University who offer post graduate planning courses accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute. University fees for this course will be paid by the Programme.

Candidates will work 3 days (21 hours) on placement within SG, and 2 days attending university and independent study. Flexibility will be required over the course of the programme to align with university timetabling.

The base location for this post will be Victoria Quay, Edinburgh however during each placement there will be an expectation of travel to alternative locations within Scotland subject to business requirements.

If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

For more information on the Future Planners programme please see here: Future Planners Programme 2025: candidate guide – gov.scot

Contact Name

Nikola Miller

Contact Email

Nikola.Miller@gov.scot

Closing date: 19 March 2025, 23:59

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 23 months

Pay: £32,455.00-£35,203.00 per year

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: 768