Landscape Architect

Job Introduction

Join a dynamic team of landscape architects at the city council for Britain’s fastest growing place and help us make the MK City Plan 2050 a reality.

We provide inhouse landscape architecture consultancy to city council teams as they deliver council priorities.

We work closely with a wide range of professionals, including external consultants and stakeholders to deliver the best outcome for our projects and to provide strategic guidance and recommendations for landscape related planning matters within Milton Keynes.

Recent projects include the design and delivery of new strategic sports, community and health facilities, district and neighbourhood parks, play areas, allotments and burial ground improvements within our strategic growth areas and supporting our ambitious housing development, urban regeneration and school expansion programmes.

Leading on landscape planning policy and landscape development management matters, we work closely with the LLFA, Urban Design, Conservation & Archaeology and Environment team colleagues in our duties to comment on emerging and current planning applications and influencing our future landscape planning policies and strategic site allocations.

We commissioned and recently completed an update to the MK Landscape Character Assessment, looking to designate Special Landscape Areas in our policies and continue to feed into wide ranging topic papers from Climate & Environmental Action to People Friendly and Healthy Places, to ensure landscape matters continue to be a key consideration in the city’s future plans.

You’ll join a team of four with the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects and to develop working knowledge of landscape planning matters. This post is ideally suited to candidates who are interested in or enrolled on the Landscape Institute Pathway to Chartership programme as we are able to provide wide ranging experience and mentoring in house.

We are expanding our team to meet increasing demand. As a result, this post is initially an 18-month fixed term contract with an opportunity to extend to a permanent position subject to business case approval (to be reviewed prior to the end of contract).

Please note you'll need to complete a personal statement as part of your application. We do not accept CVs only.

Interviews for this role will be held week commencing 6 January.

Role Responsibilities

• Undertake project specific tasks as necessary from the LI Digital Plan of Works for Landscape (LI DPoW) / RIBA Plan of Work 2020 with support from Senior and Principal Landscape Architects. This may include but is not limited to project feasibility, outline and detailed technical design, tender and construction related work stages.
• Support the Senior Landscape Architect (Development Management) in their duties to the Planning Authority, specifically with regards commenting on Discharge of Condition Applications when additional resource is required.
• Support the Principal Landscape Architect in the production and development of landscape planning / adoption and best practice guidance.

Ideal Candidate

• Post Graduate Diploma / Masters in Landscape Architecture from a Landscape Institute accredited course.
• Associate Member of the Landscape Institute, enrolled on the Pathway to Chartership to achieve full Chartered (CMLI) status.
• Two years relevant experience with working knowledge of key work stages for project delivery.
• Proficient in a range of office, graphic and computer design software. We use Keyscape LT, an AutoCAD based landscape software package and NBS Create to design and specify all our projects. It is an advantage if you are able to demonstrate proficiency in these or similar software applications.
• An understanding of key Landscape design principles and their application.
• An awareness of the National Planning Policy Frameworks and landscape related policies / legislation which could impact the works of a Landscape Architect, including CDM and BIM regulations.
• Have strong communication, planning and organisational skills.
• Be a confident team player, able to work independently as well as collaboratively.
• It is an advantage to have a full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle. If you are successful, you will be asked to supply evidence of your licence, vehicle insurance with business cover prior to starting the role.
• This role will be site based at our Civic Offices in Central Milton Keynes. Once inducted the successful applicant will be eligible to work from home up to two days per week. There are a mix of home based and office-based staff within the Landscape Architecture Team.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.