Active Design Officer

Directorate: Public Health, Protection and Wellbeing

Section: Wellbeing and Leisure Services

Location: Fenton Manor/Civic Centre

Grade: Level 9

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed Term for 2 years

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that’s where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

Shape Places. Inspire Activity. Improve Lives.

Do you want to help create healthier, more active communities across Stoke-on-Trent?

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking an enthusiastic Active Design Officer to help shape neighbourhoods where walking, cycling and physical activity are part of everyday life. Working across Bentilee, Meir, Abbey Hulton and Burslem, you’ll collaborate with Planning, Transport, Public Health and community partners to promote active travel, improve access to green and blue spaces, and embed healthy place-making into infrastructure and regeneration projects.

What we’re looking for:

• Knowledge or experience of active design, planning, transport, regeneration, public health or community development

• Strong partnership-working, communication and influencing skills

• The ability to identify opportunities, develop practical solutions and turn ideas into positive outcomes for local communities

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to influence how our city develops, tackle health inequalities and help deliver lasting improvements to residents’ health and wellbeing. You’ll work collaboratively across services and communities, helping create places where people have more opportunities to be active.

Proposed interview date 2nd or 3rd of December

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Neal Morrell, Neal.Morrell@stoke.gov.uk

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the integration of active design principles into planning, transport, regeneration and infrastructure projects to create healthier, more active neighbourhoods

• Work collaboratively with Planning, Transport, Public Health and community partners to identify opportunities to increase walking, cycling and everyday physical activity

• Support the development and activation of accessible blue and green spaces, active travel routes and community infrastructure across programme neighbourhoods

• Identify opportunities to align transport and infrastructure investment with Sport England Place Expansion objectives and wider Council priorities

• Engage with residents, community organisations and stakeholders to support community-led environmental improvements that encourage physical activity and community use

• Provide advice, evidence and recommendations on healthy place-making and active environments to inform project development, partnership working and investment decisions

About You:

• Experience or knowledge of active design, health place-making, active travel, planning, regeneration, public health or community infrastructure

• Understanding of how the built and natural environment can influence physical activity, health and wellbeing including the role of walking, cycling and accessible green and blue spaces

• Experience of partnership working across different professional disciplines, particularly with planning, transport, public health, regeneration or community organisations

• Ability to identify opportunities to integrate active design principles into infrastructure proposals, development plans and place-based initiatives

• Strong communication, engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to work with residents, communities, technical professionals and strategic stakeholders

• Good analytical, research and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess proposals, develop recommendations and contribute to project planning, monitoring and evaluation

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent

• Hybrid and flexible working options

• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme

• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK

• Proof of address

• Satisfactory references

• Occupational Health Clearance

• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations

• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.

To Apply

Please create / log into your account and then click 'apply'. If you have any queries or want an application form in another format, please email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call us on 01782 238189.

• Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?

Active D... (.pdf) (162kb)