Education Place Planning Officer – Interim (Hybrid, 18.5 hrs/week)

About the role

This interim position supports the Place Planning team in ensuring that education infrastructure keeps pace with new housing development. Working 18.5 hours per week on a hybrid basis, you will provide evidence‑based recommendations for school place requirements and help secure developer contributions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead education place planning for strategic housing projects.
• Negotiate Section 106 education mitigation and developer contributions.
• Develop and maintain pupil forecasts, capacity assessments and evidence bases.
• Prepare reports, briefings and business cases for senior leaders and elected members.
• Manage risks related to school place sufficiency, funding and infrastructure delivery.
• Represent the organisation at meetings with developers, schools and external partners.
• Support continuous improvement in education place planning processes.

Required profile

• Proven experience in education place planning and school place forecasting.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation, Section 106 agreements and developer contributions.
• Experience managing complex projects within a local authority or similar environment.
• Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder‑management abilities.
• Relevant degree or equivalent experience in planning, education, public policy or a related field.

Required skills

• Microsoft Excel
• SharePoint
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Copilot

What we offer

• Competitive hourly rate of £30 (umbrella arrangement).
• Hybrid working flexibility.
• Opportunity to influence education infrastructure in a growing region.