Education Planning Manager

 

 

Job Profile Education Planning Manager Grade:10 Date created: October 2025

 

About the Job

To support the Place Planning Manager by managing projects to deliver the expected and desired outcomes across a range of school

and educational facility projects, including the Academies Programme, the Capital Programme, and all other statutory and funded

projects.

This is what we need you to do...

• Manage the Planning & Development of school provision

across the county.

• Manage the identification and appraisal of school

accommodation needs to ensure sufficiency of school places are

provided where needed.

• Prioritise schemes for inclusion in the approved capital

programme across early years, mainstream and special

schools

• Support the Place Planning Manager in producing evidence-

based data to demonstrate the need for developer contributions

from housing to support local school places where needed.

• Provide project management support to the Place Planning

Manager to ensure responses on planning application

consultations and planning appeal evidence is coordinated and

submitted on time

• Manage the delivery of capital projects including specifying accommodation standards, client side briefing and project documentation including relevant approval documentation.

• Negotiation with schools to agree the Section 106 protocol for

Lead Member approval to the allocation of funding

• Support the Place Planning Manager in producing bids for Community

Infrastructure Levy funding for additional school places.

 

• Respond to consultations from other planning authorities about the

education requirements relating to Local and Neighbourhood Plans.

• Manage the statutory processes for creating or removing pupil

places and changes to school organisation

• Provide a focus of expertise on strategic data analysis and

dissemination.

• Provide succinct and relevant written and verbal updates that

include anticipated impact and risk assessment.

• Preparing reports to Directors, Elected Members and Senior Managers.

• Preparing data for the submission of statutory returns to the DfE and other

Government departments.

• Keep up to date with relevant policy, best practice and legislative change

and contribute to the development of policies and standards.

• Support and challenge colleagues to ensure value for money,

delivery to time and cost, and quality of projects.

• Liaise with parents, schools and other stakeholders and

professionals involved in related projects

• Liaison with partner organisations including schools, other Local

Authorities, Diocese, Central Government and Voluntary

Organisations.

• Line management of Education Planning Officer functions

 

 

 

Monitoring and ongoing development of outcomes As part of the annual appraisal, outcome based targets will be developed in conjunction with the post holder and will supplement this job profile. The

job profile will be subject to regular review, and the council reserves the right to amend or add to the accountability listed above.

The ideal candidate will have...

Experience

• Ability to understand and present complex data and analyse

appropriately for specific audiences including elected representatives,

Directors, other service areas and Local Planning Authorities

• Track record of ability to manage projects, including production of

timelines, risk matrices and project briefs

• Building and maintaining productive relationships with stakeholders,

influencing as appropriate

• Leading and supporting a range of projects.

• Experience of dealing with contentious or political issues

• Experience of working with other council service areas e.g.

planning, highways, and legal services.

• Contributing to the development of operational procedures

• Experience of working in an environment where excellent customer

service and communication skills with a range of stakeholders are

essential

 

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

• Proven project management skills, demonstrating ability to manage

complex and detailed operational work accurately to a high

standard within competing deadlines.

• Ability to advise and support internal colleagues on processes and

procedures relating to school place planning.

• Excellent IT skills across a range of systems.

• Understanding of statutory processes around Schools and Education.

Behavioural attributes

• Demonstrates Gloucestershire Leader/Employee Behaviours.

• Able to work effectively with people at all levels within, and external

to, the council and build effective relationships

• Committed to continuous improvement

• Customer focussed and able to communicate effectively

• Emotionally resilient, flexible, creative and self-motivated

• Organised and able to meet deadlines

• Politically aware

• Able to work on own initiative and work effectively as part of a team

• Flexible with a "can do" attitude to work

 

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• Good levels of literacy and numeracy, evidenced by GCSE's Grade

A-C or Grade 4-9, NVQ Level 4 or equivalent experience.

 

Additional information

• need to hold a full UK driving license, or ability to travel

throughout the county

• Working outside normal hours may be required