Landscape Consultant

Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council (ECC) providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities, and other public bodies. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver its role in sustainable development. The purpose of the Landscape Consultant is to provide effective delivery of landscape services to our clients across Essex and England. 

The Role

The Landscape Consultant will advise on landscape matters, including providing development management and policy advice to local authorities, evaluation, and delivery of landscape assessments and LVIA, landscape strategies, design guides and codes, landscape design and management; advising on design review, preparing design briefs; and undertaking supervised specialist tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects.  

The role requires a qualified, experienced, and capable subject matter expert with good technical expertise, practical knowledge and understanding of landscape design and management issues and relevant legislation, policy, standards, and guidance, as well as good client relationship, communication, and information management skills.  

Accountabilities 

• Accountable for the effective delivery of a range of landscape design services including: managing a demanding caseload of minor and major development management consultations at all stages of the planning/consent process (pre-application, application and post consent); evaluation and carrying out landscape visual assessments and LVIAs on schemes of limited scale and complexity; preparing design briefs for sites of limited scope and complexity; carrying out design reviews on schemes of small to medium scale and complexity; developing landscape strategies, design guides and codes, planting plans and hard landscaping schemes, for medium scale and complex schemes; including data capture, analysis and presentation; and completing specialists tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects. 
• Responsible for maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external clients and partners, to help ensure successful business outcomes, by seeking feedback to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, and helping to maintain a client-focused culture across Place services.
• Responsible for enhancing the recognition and reputation of Place Services through promotional events and activities, and by building internal and external networks.
• Responsible for tendering for low-value opportunities; management of low-value projects and contracts, against approved budgets, specifications, and indicators.
• Contributes to the review and development of legislation, plans, policy, and standards, collecting, presenting, and preserving evidence including case work documents (including for planning appeals and enforcement) to recognised standards, reviewing outcomes, and assessing third party compliance. 
• Contributes to the execution of ECC and client’s responsibilities and duties of care in relation to the public realm and the wider built environment.
• Contributes to implementing changes to improve effectiveness and efficiency of technical service delivery.
• Contributes to increasing the skills base across the environmental and planning sectors through development and delivery of straight forward training activities and events and preparation of learning materials. 

The Experience You Will Bring 

• Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor’s degree) in a relevant subject and evidence of post qualification experience.
• Good evidence of continuing professional development with Licentiate Membership of, or working towards Membership of, relevant professional body e.g., Landscape Institute.
• Capable technical and subject matter expert, with knowledge and experience of development management processes; planning policy, legislation, and enforcement standards and guidance; development briefs and design reviews, landscape visual assessment and LVIA, design guides and codes, and related office and site-based practices and procedures, including graphic presentation.
• Able to work confidently and consistently without supervision across a range of activities, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, using a range of tools to effectively manage simple projects from concept through to completion.
• Demonstrable awareness of wellbeing and H&S, experienced producing and implementing standard risk assessments, and able to identify and implement safe working practices for self and others.
• Able to communicate and negotiate confidently and clearly, including the independent preparation of written technical advice, and at public consultations.
• Able to engage, influence and inform contractors, volunteers, clients, and their customers, maintaining effective client relationships with demonstrable understanding of client needs and drivers, and good public interface skills.
• Ability to confidently use a range of common and bespoke software packages, including all Microsoft applications, and other information technology tools, e.g. AutoCAD, GIS, and/or design software such as Photoshop Adobe Creative Suite and Sketchup, to collect and present a range of evidence and data, and to independently carry out straightforward analyse and interpretation, with ability to interpret and analyse more complex data under supervision. 

To read more about our business area, please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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