Director of Planning

Who are we?

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is a registered company and is the trade association for aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, industrial sands, dimension stone, lime and mortar producers. It has a membership of around 150 producer companies and 225 associated companies, representing around 90% of the mineral products sector. It is the sectoral voice for mineral products throughout the UK. MPA represents the interests of its members with all levels of Government, regulators, external audiences and other organisations both in the UK and Overseas. MPA membership is made up of the vast majority of independent SME quarrying companies throughout the UK, as well as all of the major international and global companies within the sector. MPA employs directly around 45 employees supporting the organisation and its members. The industry supplies some £22 billion worth of materials and services to the economy each year.

The Role

We have an exciting hands-on opportunity for an experienced mineral planner to join the Environment & Mineral Planning (E&MP) team as Director of Planning, ensuring the licence to operate of member companies is effectively represented through the mineral planning system at national, regional and local levels.

This will be a full-time role of 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, normally during office hours, with occasional need to support activity outside of this. The role will offer the opportunity to be home-based or hybrid (offices in London and Leicester), with the need to travel to member sites and meetings as required.

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Director – Planning & Mineral Resources, the successful applicant will be the lead industry representative on Aggregate Working Parties, monitoring and responding to developing Mineral Local Plans and where necessary making representations to and attending Public Examinations to ensure policy positions are consistent with the requirements defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and associated Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).

Responsibilities in this role will include:

• Being the lead MPA representative on the Aggregate Working Parties (AWPs) covering the East of England, East & West Midlands and Yorkshire & Humberside. 
• Monitoring and responding to developing Mineral Local Plans in nominated AWP regions in liaison with member companies to ensure emerging Plans are making adequate provision for minerals and are in accordance with national policy and planning guidance.
• Participate in and attend Public Examinations relating to Local Mineral Plans on behalf of members and respond to Matters and Issues raised by the Planning Inspector by providing written representations.
• Maintain engagement and communication with mineral planning authorities and with planning, estate and resource representatives within member companies to develop relationships and understand their needs to ensure service delivery.
• Support wider E&MP team engagement with national planning policy and guidance developments and consultations and wider environmental permitting issues. To include the preparation of the Annual Mineral Planning Survey undertaken by MPA, the work of the water, waste and biodiversity E&MP work groups and support for defined MPA Product Groups.

Competence Requirements

The following knowledge, skills and experience are required for this role:

• Educated to degree level preferably in geology or another earth science, with a relevant professional qualification in a planning or environmental management related discipline.
• Expert knowledge of the UK minerals sector and specifically local plan development and development control, estates management or minerals development.
• Strong written, presentation and advocacy skills, alongside the ability to build and develop trusted relationships.
• A willingness to proactively lead discussions, to listen and to reflect in order to build consensus positions.
• Self-motivated, focussed and conscious of detail with the ability to work equally well on a self-sufficient basis and as part of a small multi-disciplinary team.

The full job description can be viewed on the careers page of our website:  
https://www.mineralproducts.org/MPA-Careers/Director-of-Planning.aspx 

If you have the skills and experience we are looking for, please send a covering letter along with a copy of your CV to [email protected].

The deadline to apply for this role is 15th September 2024.