Principal Design and Conservation Officer (Career Grade) – Planning
Hours: 28 Hours Per Week (Hybrid Working Available – Typically 2 Days Per Week in Office: Tuesday and Wednesday)
Contract: Temporary Contract – 12 Weeks (To Cover Vacancy Until Permanent Recruitment Is Completed)
Location: 1 Catford Road, Catford, London, SE6 4RU
We're recruiting a Principal Design and Conservation Officer (Career Grade) to support the Council's Planning and Development Management service. This is a key senior role for an experienced conservation and heritage professional with strong knowledge of historic environment legislation, planning policy, design quality, and complex development projects.
About the Role
As a Principal Design and Conservation Officer, you'll provide specialist design, conservation, and heritage advice to support planning decisions and development management services. You'll lead on complex heritage matters, including listed buildings, major developments, regeneration projects, and conservation programmes, while working closely with internal teams, developers, architects, Historic England, community groups, and other stakeholders.
The role requires strong professional judgement, excellent communication skills, and the ability to provide strategic advice on protecting and enhancing the historic environment.
What You'll Be Doing
- Providing specialist design, conservation, and heritage advice on planning and development proposals
- Leading on complex listed building applications, major developments, and regeneration projects affecting heritage assets
- Advising developers, architects, planning officers, and stakeholders on conservation principles and high-quality design solutions
- Managing and contributing to conservation projects, including conservation area appraisals, heritage strategies, and supplementary planning documents
- Preparing professional reports, policy advice, committee papers, and recommendations for senior officers, Members, and Council committees
- Representing the Council at planning hearings, public inquiries, and formal meetings when required
- Undertaking site visits, heritage assessments, surveys, and inspections
- Supporting heritage funding bids and project applications
- Ensuring knowledge remains current regarding conservation legislation, planning policy, guidance, and best practice
- Working collaboratively with internal services, Historic England, community organisations, developers, and external partners
- Providing mentoring, technical guidance, and supervision to junior conservation staff
- Supporting recruitment, training, and development activities within the conservation team
- Promoting equality, accessibility, and positive engagement with residents and stakeholders
- Attending occasional evening meetings, committees, and events when required
Requirements
We're looking for a highly experienced conservation and heritage professional with the ability to provide senior-level advice on complex planning matters.
You'll ideally have:
Knowledge and Experience
- Extensive knowledge of building conservation, heritage planning, and historic environment legislation
- Strong understanding of planning policy, including the National Planning Policy Framework, London Plan, and relevant planning legislation
- Proven experience providing senior conservation and heritage advice on complex applications and projects
- Experience managing conservation programmes, work plans, and heritage projects
- Experience negotiating with developers, architects, and stakeholders to achieve positive heritage outcomes
- Experience preparing and presenting reports on complex conservation and planning matters
- Experience working with public bodies, external agencies, and within a political environment
- Experience leading or contributing to multidisciplinary projects
Skills and Qualifications
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence a range of audiences
- Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver deadlines with minimal supervision
- Ability to supervise, mentor, and support junior staff
- Good IT skills and confidence using relevant planning, design, or mapping software
- Degree or postgraduate qualification in town planning, historic building conservation, architecture, or a related discipline
- Membership of a recognised professional body such as IHBC, RIBA, or RTPI
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive service delivery
- Eligible to work in the UK
- Able to provide 3 years of references/work history
- Completion of required confidentiality and criminal convictions declarations
Nice-to-Have Requirements
- Experience working within a local authority planning service
- Experience preparing conservation area appraisals, heritage strategies, or Article 4 Directions
- Experience representing an organisation at public inquiries or planning hearings
- Experience managing consultants and external heritage projects
- Knowledge of local government processes, committee procedures, and decision-making structures
Why Apply?
- Opportunity to work in a senior design and conservation planning role
- Hybrid working arrangement with flexibility
- Exposure to complex heritage, regeneration, and development projects
- Opportunity to provide strategic professional advice within a local authority environment
- Collaborative role working with planning, conservation, and external stakeholders
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
- Temp-to-Perm Opportunities
Additional Information
Pay Rate: £30.33 per hour (PAYE)
Working Hours: 28 Hours Per Week
Contract Duration: Temporary – 12 Weeks
Start Date: ASAP (Target Start Date: 17 August 2026)
Reference: OR111135
Job Type: Temporary
Contract length: 3 months
Pay: £30.33 per hour
Benefits:
Application question(s):
- 2. Do you have experience providing senior-level conservation and heritage advice on complex planning applications, listed buildings, major developments, or regeneration projects?
- 3. Do you have a strong understanding of planning legislation, including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), local planning policies, and relevant heritage guidance?
Experience:
- building conservation: 3 years (required)
- heritage planning: 3 years (required)
- preparing conservation-related reports: 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- IHBC, RIBA, RTPI, or equivalent (required)
- postgraduate qualification in architecture (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
