Education Planning Officer in Gloucester

This is a Gloucestershire County Council job located at Shire Hall. The salary is £37,280 - £40,777 per annum. This is a permanent position and not open to job share.

About the team and the role:

Our team delivers an essential service within the Council's Education Department, leading on important aspects of the Council's School Place Planning Strategy. Every year we provide thousands of children and young people with a school place, and the Education Planning Officer plays a crucial part in supporting senior managers in meeting the Council's statutory duties in this area.

You will work with a range of stakeholders, providing clear information to help support negotiations for funding contributions from housing proposals, whilst also supporting accurate reporting and analysing data to help forecast future school place demand. You will also manage delivery of some capital projects, support statutory school reorganisation, and prioritise accommodation needs to ensure every child can access quality education. In addition, you will keep up to date on national policy and strategy as it relates to the delivery of school places and prepare essential data for government returns—making a meaningful impact on local communities.

About you:

Our ideal candidate is an organised, proactive professional with a strong commitment to improving education provision. You will bring proven experience in analysing, managing and presenting complex data, whilst managing detailed work to a high standard under competing priorities. You will also be knowledgeable about statutory processes around Schools and Education.

You are confident working across teams and organisations, supporting funding negotiations, presenting clear insights to senior leaders and external partners, and government bodies. You will remain resilient, politically aware, and highly motivated in a demanding environment, always focused on delivering the best outcomes for the residents of Gloucestershire.

About us:

Hybrid working arrangements are available for many of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.

Joining us could mean access to these great benefits:

• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• 25.5 days annual leave rising to 30.5 days after 5 years continuous service
• An option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Family friendly employer offering benefits to help support you and your family
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• Supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone
• An in-house Occupational Health service
• Employee discount scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme (Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply)
• Green Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply)
• Links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) network and the Young Employees Network

How to Apply:

If you feel you have the skills, desire and experience required to make a positive difference then please submit your application and personal statement today by clicking the "Apply Now" button. For an informal discussion about the role please contact Paul Kear, Education Planning Manager, via email or by phone.

Closing date: 3rd March 2026. Short-listed candidates will be contacted by e-mail and invited to interview week commencing Monday 9th March 2026. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 25th or Thursday 26th March 2026 at Shire Hall in Gloucester.

Additional Information:

The council is not currently able to offer sponsorship in this role. Candidates will need to have right to work that enables them to commit to at least 6 months employment. Right to work is not transferable from a sponsored role held with another employer. This Position is subject to a DBS check. Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire's diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.