At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead school planning activities and manage major projects across the county.
- Company: Join a dynamic team within Children's Services focused on education infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work flexibility, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and engage with local authorities and schools.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in education by ensuring sufficient school places for communities.
- Qualifications: A levels or equivalent experience, strong analytical and project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 48226 - 53460 £ per year.
Starting Salary: £48,226 progressing to £53,460 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage, Farnham House although majority remote working
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children's Services
About The Team
The School Planning team commissions schools and school places as part of the Local Authority’s statutory duty to ensure a sufficient supply of school places across the county. It strategically plans school capacity across an area, engaging with headteachers, Governing Bodies and Academy Trusts to negotiate the right number of school places to meet demand through the adjustment of admissions numbers, expansion and contraction of school size, opening new schools as well as school closures, leading and coordinating statutory processes round school reorganisation.
We formulate the Local Authority’s education infrastructure response to long term housing growth proposals ensuring land is secured for new school provision as part of District Council Local Plan making processes. The team leads on planning new school provision within areas of new strategic housing growth across the county whilst also engaging in discussions with schools in existing towns and villages about the right number of school places to meet local demand, working with multi-disciplinary teams across the organisation including Admissions, Property, Finance, Growth & Infrastructure colleagues.
About The Role
This role involves leading on school planning activity, with a focus on major projects and county wide programmes of work, as well as working alongside other School Planning Officers to deliver on specific projects. You will be responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient school places within the designated programmes of work and projects. You will devise strategies from data analysis and other intelligence, formulating deliverable proposals through multi-disciplinary working and negotiating with school leaders, Governing Bodies and Trusts. You will lead on statutory proposals in line with relevant legislation and draft reports to support member decisions through the political process. You will produce evidence-based need cases to identify and secure land as part of strategic local plan making processes and feed into negotiations to secure funding contributions from developers to mitigate the impact of new housing on education infrastructure within your projects. You will work collaboratively with other teams and organisations to ensure the programmes of work and projects are delivered on time and to budget.
About You
- Essential: Qualifications to include at least 2 A levels and / or equivalent work experience.
- Demonstrable critical thinking skills with the ability to analyse complex datasets and draw well-founded conclusions.
- Demonstratable skills in project management.
- Experience of strategic thinking and planning.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences both in writing and verbally.
- Evidence of sound and effective negotiation skills demonstrating the ability to influence outcomes in challenging situations.
- Experience of successfully achieving positive results through working collaboratively with others.
- Strong organisation skills, able to work self-directed under pressure.
- Demonstrable good understanding of the complexities of operating in a political environment.
- Driving license and access to a car.
Desirable:
- Qualified to degree level.
- Previous school planning experience or similar/associated roles such as town planning.
- A good understanding of school organisation and the role of the Local Authority as commissioner.
This is a varied role, working with a number of different teams across the organisation as well as externally engaging with District Councils, School leaders, Governing Bodies, Academy Trusts and the Department for Education, whilst also working with elected Members to secure support for school planning proposals. It is a great opportunity for you to further develop your analytical, critical thinking and negotiation skills and gaining a deeper understanding of the school place planning landscape in Hertfordshire.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is Level 12.
To hear more about this opportunity please contact Kate Leahy (Head of Service) on 01992 555864 or Mark Green (School Planning Manager) on 01707 292669.
Interview Date: 17th June 2026
Benefits of working for us
How To Apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert/job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Additional Information
Disability Confident: We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding: This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Driving Required: You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency: The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Remote School Planning Lead - Countywide Major Projects in Stevenage employer: Hertfordshire County Council
As a leading employer in the education sector, we offer a dynamic work environment that prioritises collaboration and innovation. Our team is dedicated to ensuring a sufficient supply of school places across Hertfordshire, providing employees with meaningful opportunities to impact the community positively. With a focus on professional development and a supportive culture, we empower our staff to grow their skills while enjoying the flexibility of remote working arrangements.
Contact Details:
Hertfordshire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Remote School Planning Lead - Countywide Major Projects in Stevenage
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those involved in school planning. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the latest trends in school planning and local authority strategies. Show us you’re not just a candidate, but someone who’s genuinely interested in making a difference in the community.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since this role involves working with various stakeholders, being able to demonstrate your ability to influence outcomes will set you apart. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to build confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Remote School Planning Lead - Countywide Major Projects in Stevenage
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of School Planning Officer. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in project management and strategic planning, so we can see how you fit into our team.
Showcase Your Skills:In your application, don’t just list your qualifications. Use specific examples to demonstrate your critical thinking, negotiation skills, and ability to work collaboratively. We want to see how you've made an impact in previous roles!
Craft a Compelling Covering Paragraph:Use the short covering paragraph to give us a snapshot of who you are. Share your passion for education and school planning, and let us know why you’re excited about this opportunity with StudySmarter.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and keep everything organised as we review applications.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hertfordshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the role of a School Planning Officer. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, especially around strategic planning and project management. Understanding the local education landscape and recent developments in school planning will show your genuine interest and preparedness.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be ready to discuss how you've used data analysis in past roles. Prepare examples where you've drawn conclusions from complex datasets, as this is crucial for the role. Highlight any specific projects where your analytical skills led to successful outcomes, especially in a school planning context.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since you'll be negotiating with various stakeholders, think of instances where you've successfully influenced outcomes. Prepare to discuss your negotiation strategies and how you handle challenging situations. This will demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively and achieve positive results.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, both verbally and in writing. Given the need to communicate with diverse audiences, consider preparing a brief presentation on a relevant topic. This will not only showcase your communication skills but also your ability to engage effectively with different stakeholders.
