Education Planning Manager

Gloucestershiremusic; Kings Barton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Kings Barton is seeking an Education Planning Manager to oversee the Council’s School Place Planning Strategy. The role involves collaborating with stakeholders, managing complex projects, and ensuring quality educational opportunities for children. Successful candidates will possess strong project management and organizational skills, with a passion for improving education. The role offers hybrid working arrangements and support for professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

25.5 days annual leave

Family friendly employer benefits

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Green Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven track record in project management with the ability to manage complex tasks.
• Skilled at building effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to negotiate funding contributions from developments.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the Council’s School Place Planning Strategy.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and support statutory school reorganisation.
• Supervise and support staff, ensuring quality outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Collaboration

Negotiation

Data analysis

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Job description

• Job Title: Education Planning Manager
• Job Location: Shire Hall
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Closing Date: 09/01/2026
• Job Requisition Number: 12697
• This post is not open to job share

Are you passionate about shaping the future of education in Gloucestershire? If so, the role of Education Planning Manager could be the role for you.

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 Manager plays a crucial part in meeting the Council’s statutory duties in this area.

You’ll collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, negotiate funding contributions from housing proposals, and use strategic data analysis to forecast school place needs. You’ll also manage the delivery of capital projects, support statutory school reorganisation, and prioritise accommodation requirements to ensure every child has access to quality education.

In addition, you’ll supervise and support staff, quality‑assure team outputs, and prepare essential data for government returns, making a meaningful impact on local communities.

About you

Our ideal candidate is an organised and proactive professional with a passion for improving education provision. You will have a proven track record in project management, with the ability to manage complex and detailed work accurately and to a high standard within competing priorities and deadlines.

You thrive in a collaborative environment, can motivate and challenge others, encouraging them to remain focussed at all times on the statutory and strategic priorities of the Council whilst remaining sharply focussed on ensuring the best service to the residents of Gloucestershire.

Skilled at building effective relationships with system partners and communities, you’re confident negotiating funding with developers and presenting information to senior leaders, elected members and government bodies. You have the skills and resilience to deliver within an increasingly challenging landscape, alongside the political awareness, and be highly self‑motivated and organised.

Please read the job profile which provides further information on the experience and attributes sought of our ideal candidate.

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.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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 Gareth Vine, Head of Education Planning and Infrastructure, via email [e-mail] or by phone on 01452 427547.

Short‑listed candidates will be contacted by e‑mail and invited to interview week commencing 19 January 2026. Interviews will be held on 28th January 2026.

Additional Information

To access the Job Profile for this role, please follow the link below:-

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.

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.