Deputy Chief Planner

Overview

The Scottish Government is recruiting a Deputy Chief Planner to lead and inspire a skilled cohort of planning and policy officials committed to strengthening and streamlining planning in Scotland. In this high‑profile leadership role you will help ensure Scotland’s planning system supports sustainable growth, investment, infrastructure delivery and vibrant communities across the country.

Responsibilities

• Act as Deputy Chief Planner and Head of Division, leading delivery of Ministers’ statutory responsibilities for the operation of the planning system.
• Implement and operationalise reforms to Scotland’s planning services to help make Scotland the most attractive part of the UK to invest.
• Oversee statutory planning and consenting decisions, providing high‑quality professional advice to ministers to allow sound and timely decisions that minimise risk of legal challenge.
• Provide strategic and professional support to the Director and Chief Planner and work with built environment professional networks to maximise the impact of planning across portfolios and champion the profession within government.
• Engage strategically with key stakeholder bodies, including the High‑Level Group in Planning, Heads of Planning Scotland and senior members of government, to ensure the planning system and all sectors collaborate effectively to support development delivery and economic growth.
• Work flexibly to respond to queries and priorities as they arise, maintaining a solutions‑focused approach and meeting the pace of the post.

Qualifications

• In‑depth knowledge of the Scottish Planning System, NPF4 and the Planning Acts and their relationship to broader strategies and policies.
• A degree in Town & Country Planning (or equivalent) and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
• Significant experience as a practising town planner and/or within the planning profession.
• Current membership number for the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI); applications received without an RTPI membership number will be automatically sifted out as this is an essential requirement for the role.
• Demonstrated ability to exhibit the following Civil Service behaviours at Level 5: Leadership, Working Together, Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, and Delivering at Pace.

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