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- Tasks: Support planning for school places and engage with local councils and developers.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, committed to equality and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in education by ensuring children have access to quality schools.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a passion for community engagement.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on improving educational infrastructure in a growing area.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 35000 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, LE3 8RA
Worker Category: Hybrid Worker
Salary: £35,451 - £39,165 per annum (pro rata for part-time)
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 8th February 2026
Interview Date(s): TBC
About the Role
We are looking for an exceptional individual to help Leicestershire deliver our statutory responsibilities in ensuring all children can access a high-quality local school place following the retirement of the current post holder. The post is for one year as cover for the current post holder who is covering the maternity leave of a School Place Planning Officer within the team.
Leicestershire is in a period of significant growth with thousands of new homes being built and new schools planned. This is a varied role, and the successful candidate will carry out a range of functions relating to school organisation, capital projects and pupil place planning.
As Assistant School Place Planning Officer you will be supporting the School Organisation Team to ensure that education infrastructure can meet the demand for school places and where additional places are required, those places are delivered in the right place and at the right time. This role would suit someone looking to develop their career working across the organisation towards a more strategic level in the future.
You will be actively involved in the monitoring of funding for new projects, managing statutory processes, engaging with our delivery partners and key stakeholders from inception through to completion to ensure all projects are delivered on time and are aligned with the communities they serve.
The successful candidates will work in a small team helping to ensure that there are sufficient high-quality school places in Leicestershire by delivering an ambitious Children and Families Capital Programme across all phases of Education. The work is interesting and varied and involves working closely with Schools and Academies.
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to:
- Support School Place Planning Officers (SPPOs) to identify and appraise the need for additional places for children and young people at a local, District and County level.
- Support SPPOs in effectively engaging with District Councils, housing developers and their agents in respect of planned new housing/SUE’s to ensure that Leicestershire receives developer contributions needed.
- Take a lead role within the team for net capacity relating to School Organisation and Place Planning, providing high-level advice and guidance where appropriate.
- Monitor requests and expenditure of S106 through Mastergov and produce reports for SPPOs, SMT and CSG.
- Organise and deliver key events including consultations, publicity events and member briefings in relation to school organisation matters.
- Support SPPOs to respond to requests for information from schools, other County Council officers, District Councils, developers, members of the public and external bodies.
- Manage areas of the Capital Programme as required.
You must also have an understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion. In addition, we expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the interview process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.
Interested in Flexible Working?
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual’s personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
This may include requests for term-time working, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexible start and finish times, home/remote working, etc.
Every role within the Council has a defined working style which determines where they can work. The worker category applicable to this post is detailed in the above advert. You can find out more about our worker categories in the Our Working Styles page on our career site.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:
Ian Sharpe – School Organisation Service Manager
Telephone: 0116 305 9836
Email: ian.sharpe@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
Leicestershire County Council is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our communities. We particularly welcome applicants from Ethnically Diverse and LGBTQ+ communities and people with disabilities to create a balanced workforce and one that reflects the communities we serve.
Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.
To apply for this job, please click on the apply button. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. For more information, see the How to Apply section on our career site.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Assistant School Place Planning Officer employer: Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group
Contact Detail:
Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant School Place Planning Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Leicestershire County Council on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info about the role and the team, plus it shows your genuine interest.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching recent projects in school place planning. Knowing what's happening in Leicestershire will help you stand out and show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice common interview questions with a mate. Focus on how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Assistant School Place Planning Officer role. Confidence is key, so get comfortable talking about your experiences!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Leicestershire County Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant School Place Planning Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully: Before you start writing, give the job description a good read. It’s packed with info on what we’re looking for, so make sure you understand the key responsibilities and requirements. This will help you tailor your application to show us why you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Strong Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Use it to highlight how your skills and experiences match the criteria listed in the 'About You' section. Be specific and give examples – we want to see what you can bring to the table!
Show Your Passion for Education: We’re all about ensuring high-quality school places for children. Make sure your application reflects your enthusiasm for education and community development. Share any relevant experiences or projects that demonstrate your commitment to this cause!
Apply Early and Follow Up: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications. Once you’ve applied, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need clarification – we’re here to help!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of an Assistant School Place Planning Officer. Familiarise yourself with Leicestershire County Council's current projects and challenges in school place planning. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Engage with Examples
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your skills in project management, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving. Think about times when you've successfully navigated complex situations or worked collaboratively with others, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, upcoming projects, or how success is measured in this role. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the position aligns with your career goals.
✨Show Your Commitment to Inclusion
Leicestershire County Council values equality, diversity, and inclusion. Be ready to discuss how you’ve contributed to these principles in your previous roles. Sharing your understanding and commitment to these values will resonate well with the interviewers.
