Strategic Planner (Career Grade)

Key information

Good Growth

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

About the team

The Place Unit is a new unit formed from GLA [Regeneration & Growth Strategies] and TfL [Growth & Master planning] teams. It sits within the wider network of GLA Planning & Regeneration and TfL Spatial Planning and provides a key opportunity to discuss and resolve cross-organisational and departmental issues more effectively.

About the role

This role is in the Growth Strategies team where you will work to identify and bring forward the most appropriate process for planning for growth, supporting the London Plan.

What your day will look like

• You will draw together and analyse information to identify strategic areas and corridors in London with potential for immediate and future growth potential.

• You will use your GIS mapping and urban design skills to support frameworks, plans and strategies working with TfL and London boroughs. The aim will be to bring together the aspirations of the Mayor, TfL and the boroughs for a growth area in a coherent future vision and deliverable spatial plan.

• You will use your analytical skills and presentational abilities to review data and show it in a visually engaging way, for example in updating the Opportunity Area webpages and pen portraits shown here:

https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/planning/implementing-london-plan/londons-opportunity-areas

Opportunity Area Pen Portraits - London Datastore

You will also work closely with the Place Unit area teams and the London Plan team to analyse spatial development patterns and identify current areas that are not realising their potential and prospective new growth areas for homes and jobs.

You should have some knowledge and understanding of national and regional planning and development issues, legal processes and policy trends. In particular, you should have a good grasp of the spatial planning issues in London.

You will also need to be able to work successfully with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria, please address these in your covering letter:

Substantial progress towards a degree in Architecture/Urban Design/Town Planning or equivalent. An additional qualification or experience in Urban Planning is desirable.

Knowledge and understanding of national, regional and London strategic planning and development issues, legal processes, policy trends, and broad knowledge and understanding of local planning and regeneration issues and processes and a knowledge of urban design, place making, and master planning.

Good working knowledge of AutoCAD, Sketch Up, Adobe Creative Suite, and GIS programmes. The ability to convey spatial ideas graphically in a clear and compelling manner is important. This should be combined with skills in drawing and modelling masterplan and development plot lay outs convincingly and accurately, so that site development capacities can be derived and interrogated.

Evidence of an ability to investigate, analyse and present urban design solutions for spatial planning and regeneration issues.

Excellent communication skills; and evidence of ability to prepare clear and concise reports, presentations and briefings, including an ability to illustrate ideas through mapping and graphics presentations.

Behavioural competencies

Communicating and Influencing..is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders

• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication

• Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively

• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way

• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

Problem solving ..is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions

Level 2 indictors of effectiveness:

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully

• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems

• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving

• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems

• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving

Research and analysis ..is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 2 indicators of effectiveness

• Proactively seeks new information sources to progress research agendas and address gaps in knowledge

• Grasps limitations of or assumptions behind data sources, disregarding those that lack quality

• Analyses and integrates qualitative and quantitative data to find new insights

• Translates research outcomes into concise, meaningful reports

• Identifies relevant and practical research questions for the future

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

Up to date CV

Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345)

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination. 

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Darren Richards would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at Darren.richards@london.gov.uk.

There will be two information sessions held over Teams where the work of the team and role will be set out.  Links to join are below:

Wednesday 7th January 2026 10.30 Join the meeting now

Thursday 8th January 2026 15:30  Join the meeting now

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the glaopdcrecruitment@tfl.gov.uk who support the GLA with recruitment.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: w/c 9th February 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. 

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening. 

Find out which DBS check is right for your employee - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

More Support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact resourcingteam@london.gov.uk.