Job Title:
Senior Planning and Policy Officer – Hyperscale Data Centre Campaign
Overview
This is a key role for APRS supporting our hyperscale data centre campaign. The role will provide expert advice and support for communities, while also producing representations and objections for planning applications as they come in, and also delivering on policy and development planning work related to hyperscale data centres. We are seeking a RTPI Chartered Town Planner (or eligible for full RTPI membership)
Hours/duration:
This is an unusual role – we are seeking an experienced Planner, but it is for a time-limited role. We have funding for up to a year (longer if the role is done part-time), depending on pay and working pattern, but want to find the right person and so we are very willing to have flexible arrangements to accommodate those who perhaps would work part-time for us and continue other freelance work. We also realise that this may appeal to those who have newly retired and may wish a part-time role, which we would also welcome. The role would ideally be three or four days a week, however we are also happy to discuss a full-time role and, in unusual circumstances, may engage someone on a freelance basis.
This post will require occasional work out of hours, including at weekends, for which time off in lieu will be granted.
Location:
We work from a small, friendly office in the centre of Edinburgh, which we share with Global Justice Now. The role is based in the office but with the option of hybrid working. The aim would be to coincide in the office where possible with the Director (who works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).
Due to the nature of the current office, in an old building, it is not currently accessible for all, however, if you have access requirements, please let us know and we will do all we can to accommodate your needs, including providing the option of working from home.
If you have any questions about the role please email kat@aprs.scot
Reports to:
Kat Jones, APRS Director
Pay and conditions:
Salary £33-£38,000 (pro rata – ie if it were full time)
You will receive 25 days annual leave (pro rata), with an additional day for each year of service up to 30 days, plus 10 days statutory holidays (pro rata). APRS contributes 8% to a pension plan with NEST. All our staff members work part time. We have a flexitime policy and we will work to accommodate those with family, caring, or other responsibilities.
We are legally required only to employ candidates with the right to work in the UK.
How to apply:
Send your CV along with a covering letter (max. 600 words) outlining clearly how your experience and skills meet the essential and desirable criteria and what it is that draws you to this role. Please also let us know what kind of working arrangements you would be interested in (ie how many days a week)
Save your CV and covering letter in one document, name it [your surname] [your first name] APRS Application and send to Pam Paton info@aprs.scot
Closing date for applications: 26 August 2026 11pm
Interview date: 8 September 2026 (in our offices at the Augustine church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh – with the option to request an online interview for accessibility reasons)
Any questions about the role please direct to kat@aprs.scot
Job Description
Senior Planning and Policy Officer – Hyperscale Data Centre Campaign
Summary
This role is focused on an exciting area of planning, where a rush of planning applications for hyperscale AI data centres is testing planning policy, guidance, and the key concept of the Scottish planning system being plan-led. This has implications for the environment, for Scotland’s landscapes and its resources and infrastructure. It also is of huge concern to local communities near to sites where hyperscale data centre development is proposed.
APRS is recruiting a qualified RTPI Planner to lead our technical and policy response to this rapid expansion. We have been campaigning on hyperscale data centres since October and momentum is gathering, with community campaigns springing up against data centres in their own localities. This role will have three stands: provide technical advice and support for communities grappling with the planning system, monitoring and responding to planning applications and inputting to local development plans, and also providing policy advice, briefings and consultation responses.
We are seeking a well organised, committed and proactive person, who has excellent technical knowledge of Scotland’s Planning system and also the ability to translate that knowledge into communications for non-specialists including communities, politicians, and civil servants (among others). You will join our small and supportive team. If you enjoy variety, a fast-paced work place, and want to make a real difference in a small environmental charity, we would love to hear from you.
This is an absolutely key role in our hyperscale data centre campaign and will support and extend the work we have been doing. As a small charity (we currently have only three part-time staff), this role will help make our data centre campaign more sustainable over the next year or so.
Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) is Scotland’s countryside charity, campaigning to protect, enhance, and promote Scotland’s countryside and rural landscapes for everyone’s benefit, and we support others to do the same.
Job Description:
The job comes in three parts: support for communities; monitoring and responding to planning applications and new LDP consultations; and planning policy work. You may also, on occasion, and because we are a small team, be required to do other tasks and activities to support other staff members.
Monitor and respond to planning applications as they arise
- Drafting objections and advice: Write summary advice for communities on key planning documents and decisions, draft key objection bullet points for local communities with an extremely quick turn-around, and prepare robust objections on behalf of APRS,
- Monitoring the planning applications: Monitor new applications/ stages of an application coming in and keep APRS’s Data Centre Map updated with changes and add new information and analysis to the map as and when needed.
- Responding to new LDP consultations: we are seeing new LDPs being consulted on and need to look at responding where necessary where hyperscale AI data centres are involved.
Technical advice and capacity building support for communities
- Bespoke advice for community groups: Provide direct technical planning advice, guidance, and capacity building to local community campaigns. These may include community councils, local action groups, residents’ associations and informal groups seeking to object to hyperscale data centre applications.
- Webinars and community workshops: Plan and deliver training sessions in person and online, for communities affected by hyperscale data centre proposals.
- Local engagement: liaise with communities and conduct site visits where necessary to help inform planning advice and responses.
Planning policy work
- Produce briefings, guidance and consultation responses:
- Contribute technical expertise to briefings for MSPs, prepare materials for Parliament committees when required
- respond to relevant consultations
- Respond to LDP consultations
- Policy recommendations: synthesise findings from academic research, experiences from communities and legal advice to produce or refine policy recommendations
- Collate learning in communities and from hyperscale data centre applications to contribute to policy
- Liaise with SCCS (and potentially others) over joint policy work
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), or eligible for full membership with demonstrable progress toward accreditation.
Post-graduate or undergraduate degree in Town and Country Planning, Urban Planning, Regional Planning or a closely related discipline.
Strong understanding of the Scottish planning system including: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), NPF4, landscape character assessments, Local development plans and local place plans
Minimum of three years of professional planning experience in local government, consultancy, or the third sector
Flourishes when having many tasks and projects going at the same time, but is able to prioritise effectively to ensure that critical work is completed timeously.
Ability to translate complex technical planning documents and concepts into clear policy briefs, parliamentary evidence, and materials for community groups.
Experience of working with non-specialists particularly communities.
Excellent written skills with the capacity to write planning objections, consultation responses, briefings and public-facing guidance materials.
Interested in people, enjoys working with non-specialists and flourishes in a small team.
Keen to learn about our other work areas, and be willing to contribute in other areas of work where required to support staff.
Commitment to the work APRS, and supports our mission.
Desirable
Familiarity with the the planning issues around hyperscale data centres
Experience working directly with communities or members of the public, giving planning advice or training
Interested in politics and with a good understanding of the Scottish political landscape
Experience of the Scottish Parliament and/or Scottish Government, for example, preparing briefings for politicians, responding to government consultations, or participating in government stakeholder working groups.
Knowledge of any of the following subject areas: Climate change legislation and policy, power and grid, landscape, community benefits, the energy consenting process, environment or other relevant areas of knowledge.
About APRS
APRS (Action to Protect Rural Scotland) was founded in 1926 and is the only Scottish organisation dedicated exclusively to protecting and enhancing all Scotland’s rural landscapes and countryside, whether at the edge of towns and cities, or in more remote settings.
Despite having such a long history (in fact the National Trust for Scotland was founded out of APRS), we are a tiny organisation with three part time staff (and ambitions for more!). We campaign with communities, on behalf of all landscapes, from the ones surrounding our towns and cities to the wilder landscapes across rural Scotland. Our current key campaigns are on National Parks and protected landscapes , Greenbelt protection and policy, strategic land use planning, and access for all to the countryside close to where they live. We believe that the quality of people’s surroundings is central to their well-being, and that the quality of Scotland’s countryside is of fundamental importance even to those who spend most of their time in towns and cities. We support communities and individuals to look after and make the most of their local landscapes and we believe that Scotland’s countryside has a key role to play in tackling the climate emergency and addressing the nature crisis.
We currently have three staff members each working between three and two days and week
Our Mission
APRS is Scotland’s countryside charity. We campaign to protect, enhance and promote Scotland’s countryside and rural landscapes for everyone’s benefit, and we support others to do the same.
Our Values
Knowledgeable: We are respected for the knowledge held by our staff and volunteers and are sought out to provide balanced guidance and advice. Our online publications are seen as a source of authority.
Empowering: We offer help, advice and support to individuals and communities, empowering them to campaign for their local countryside and landscapes.
Collaborative: We work with others and form partnerships so we can make the greatest difference and work to our strengths. Our small size makes us flexible and fleet of foot and we can move swiftly.
Approachable: We are a place where everyone feels included and welcome– those with years of experience and knowledge, and those coming to our work for the first time, whatever their background.
Persistent: Sometimes campaigns take time, but we are persistent and unflappable. We have a century of history and experience behind us, we see the long-view and set out to change things that need stickability and determination. We get things done.