Kent, UK
Senior urban designer
at Dartford Borough Council
Dartford Borough Council is seeking a senior urban designer (active travel and green infrastructure) to join its team in Kent, UK.
This is an opportunity for a talented individual to join the new placemaking team at a senior level to shape and implement our active travel and green infrastructure strategy.
If you are looking to set the brief, not just design to it, then this role is for you. This is a chance to further your career and use your skills for the public good in shaping better, more sustainable places.
The permanent post has a starting salary of £42k pa rising to over £44k pa after 12 months satisfactory performance. Employees can also benefit from hybrid working, professional fee payment, generous pension contributions, and other wellbeing benefits.
About
Dartford is located on the River Thames, in Kent but adjoining London, it is one of the fastest growing districts in the country. From planned new and extended communities on brownfield land, our focus is very much on sustainable development, minimising car use, and complementary new infrastructure including active travel routes. The borough’s connections and infrastructure are more than just the Dartford crossing: Dartford station (TFL zone eight), adjacent the council offices, is the busiest in Kent and links to a wide range of stations in London and in Kent via Thameslink and Southeastern services. In addition, Ebbsfleet International is located in the east of the Borough; there are good bus services, including TfL buses and the Fastrack rapid transit system.
As a place of choice for national and international businesses, as well as hosting Bluewater shopping centre and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, the Borough is a varied and exciting place for a career in urban design and landscape architecture. We are now planning to 2037, and our focus is on Dartford Town Centre and securing residential-led mixed use redevelopment in and around the town, as well as public realm and transport-related improvements. Dartford also has a significant area of Green Belt and complementing the growth in the urban area of the Borough, we are keen to protect and promote areas such as our ancient woodlands, river valleys, marshland, North Downs, Country Parks, Darent Valley footpath and public rights of way.
This is a new role with the opportunity for the post holder to coordinate provision of an active travel and green infrastructure network. You have the chance to make this post your own, leading on projects for improved walking and cycling routes, and ensuring that new development contributes to this network and improves environmental quality, in a rapidly changing Borough. We will be asking candidates to demonstrate a broad skillset, the role will be ideally suited to landscape architects, architects or urban designers with public realm and landscape-led masterplanning experience. Previous public sector experience is not necessary. You will work with a variety of professionals, linking together projects, identifying and promoting funding opportunities, and driving delivery. You will need to have good people skills and project management skills.
The role sits within planning services, where you will be working alongside other planners and urban designers. As a small team there are plenty of chances to get involved in, and potentially lead on, a variety of projects and we are expecting this post holder to do just that.
Preferred skills and experience:
- RQF level eight (postgraduate) qualification in landscape architecture, architecture and/or urban design
- experience of landscape architecture/urban design in an urban area
- experience of active travel strategy and implementation
- experience of landscape schemes and green infrastructure projects
- experience of urban design projects involving varied stakeholders.
- knowledge and understanding of the key legislation relevant to the role, development and planning process
- understanding of the local planning authority role with regard to active travel and green infrastructure
- 2D/3D CAD to a professional standard. (Revit not required)
- excellent graphic ability, including knowledge of Adobe CC
- GIS knowledge desirable
How to apply
Please apply via the link below, do not send your CV – only fully completed application forms will be accepted. The closing date is Sunday 5 June. We will ask you to bring examples of your work if you are selected for interview.
No agencies, please.