Senior Planner – Scotland

We’re seeking an enthusiastic and motivated person to join RSPB Scotland’s planning team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to use your planning knowledge and expertise to help shape policy, guidance, and legislation to benefit nature and people. You’ll work closely with colleagues in the Policy and Advocacy department, as well as with teams throughout Scotland, providing expert planning advice, support, and training. You’ll also lead on complex planning and consenting cases, helping to ensure that planning plays a positive role in tackling the nature and climate crisis.

Key Responsibilities are to:

• Provide specialist advice and training to colleagues, including support for RSPB responses to development proposals
• Lead on complex planning and other consenting regime cases and occasional representation at hearings and/or public inquiries.
• Develop and advocate for RSPB planning policies, both internally and externally, with stakeholders such as government, businesses, and environmental charities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders and a wide range of internal colleagues.
• Ensure effective internal communication of RSPB’s planning work to support a consistent approach to policy advocacy.
• Collaborate with Communications and Campaigns colleagues to identify and deliver media, campaign, and communication materials that support advocacy goals.
• Stay informed about relevant internal and external work, particularly from UK Planning, Conservation Science, and Advisory teams, to identify emerging issues.
• Prepare high-quality policy reports, consultation responses and briefings.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in planning or a related subject.
• Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) or able to clearly demonstrate equivalent professional experience.
• Strong knowledge of the Scottish planning system.
• Professional experience in the planning system or a similar regulatory framework.
• Ability to analyse complex information and contribute constructively to discussions and decision-making.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality professional documents.
• Ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders, to influence outcomes and negotiate effectively.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Competent in Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of working with key stakeholders within the planning and/or other consenting systems.
• Strong understanding of relevant environmental legislation, including the Habitats Regulations and the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
• Experience of participating in committees, hearings, or public inquiries
• Good understanding of policy areas relevant to planning and conservation, and related biodiversity and environmental issues.
• Awareness of political systems and processes, and their relevance to conservation and environmental policy, advocacy and casework.

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week, although other working patterns will be considered. There will be a need to be present in the RSPB Edinburgh office on a regular basis and to attend meetings in central Scotland and occasional meetings elsewhere in the UK. This role will require occasional overnight stays away from home.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 8th and 9th October 2025. For further information, please email: [email protected]    

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.