Lead Strategic Planner (NSIPs)

About the Team

At Oxfordshire County Council, our Place Shaping service helps shape the future of Oxfordshire. Working across planning, infrastructure, transport, housing, environment and economic development, we support sustainable growth and help create thriving communities.

The Strategic Planning and Infrastructure team works with partners across Oxfordshire and the wider region to develop the evidence, policies and priorities that underpin future growth. We play a key role in shaping places, supporting strategic infrastructure investment and engaging with nationally significant infrastructure projects.

About the Role

We are seeking a Technical Lead Strategic Planner (NSIPs) to lead Oxfordshire County Council's strategic and technical input into Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping major infrastructure proposals that will impact Oxfordshire's future. As a statutory consultee in the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, the Council has an important role in influencing proposals, representing local interests and helping to maximise benefits for communities across the county. You will work on some of the most significant infrastructure projects in the region, collaborating with local authorities, developers, government bodies and a wide range of technical specialists.

As the Council's specialist lead for NSIPs, you will coordinate technical input across multiple disciplines, provide expert planning advice and represent the Council throughout the consultation and examination process. The role offers opportunities to engage with senior leaders, elected members, developers and regional partners, helping to shape infrastructure proposals and strategic planning outcomes across Oxfordshire.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the Council's strategic and technical input to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
• Providing expert planning advice and coordinating contributions from specialists across a range of disciplines.
• Building effective relationships with district councils, developers, government bodies and other partners to influence proposals and maximise community benefits.
• Managing and leading the Council's involvement in consultations, participating in examinations and preparing planning performance agreements.
• Preparing briefings, reports and recommendations for senior leaders and elected members, acting as a specialist adviser on NSIP matters.

About you

You will be an experienced planning professional with strong technical expertise and the ability to navigate complex planning issues with confidence. Comfortable working across organisational and professional boundaries, you'll be able to analyse complex information, develop evidence-based recommendations and communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences.

You will enjoy building relationships and influencing outcomes, working collaboratively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders to deliver positive results. Whether providing specialist advice, managing competing priorities or representing the Council in external forums, you'll be able to balance strategic thinking with attention to detail.

You will also bring:

• Significant experience in strategic planning, development planning or infrastructure planning.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation, policy frameworks and statutory consultation processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence and collaborate across organisations.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including presenting complex information clearly and confidently.
• A relevant degree or equivalent substantial experience, together with professional membership or eligibility for membership of a relevant professional body such as the RTPI.

Could this be you?

Before applying, we recommend reviewing the attached job description. It contains further information about the role and the essential criteria we will use during the selection process.

Rewards and benefits

At OCC, you'll be part of a team that’s not only passionate about what we do, but also about how we do it. We foster a culture of inclusion, respect, and continuous improvement, and we’re proud to offer flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a strong sense of purpose in everything we do.

• Hybrid working – Flexibility is important to deliver the service and to suit individual lifestyles, we encourage discussion at interviews as we acknowledge there isn’t a one size fits all approach.
• Culture of flexible working
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your growth
• Technology to support agile working – with unlimited access to Copilot for smarter productivity
• Employee Assistance Programme with health and wellbeing support
• Generous annual leave - up to 30 days plus bank holidays, and an option to 'buy' additional time off
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local Government Pension Scheme - employer contributions up to 18.9%
• Discounts - local and national offers for shopping and travel

Ready to Apply?

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply by 26 October 2026, submitting:

• an up-to-date CV,
• a personal statement of up to 750 words outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role.

For informal enquiries or further information about the role, please contact:

• Sarah Steere-Smith, Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Team Leader on sarah.steere-smith@oxfordshire.gov.uk
• And George Gurney, Principal Strategic Planner (NSIPs) on george.gurney@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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