Education Place Planning Manager

Surrey County Council; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council is seeking an Education Place Planning Manager to join their team in Woking. This full-time, permanent role involves managing public consultations and collaborating with schools to plan educational provisions. The position offers hybrid working and a competitive salary of £52,047 per annum, alongside a comprehensive benefits package including generous leave and a local government pension scheme.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, increasing with service

Option to buy additional leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Carer's leave

Generous pension scheme

Lifestyle discounts

Paid volunteering days

Access to learning and development hub

Qualifications

• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Ability to collaborate with partners and professionals.
• Data analysis and presentation skills to support decisions.
• Knowledge of current education legislation and policies.
• Experience managing complex projects or programmes.

Responsibilities

• Work with data, liaise with schools and communities.
• Manage public consultations about school changes.
• Write briefings, visit schools, and conduct consultations.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Influencing

Data analysis

Presentation

Job description

Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £52,047 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Education Place Planning Manager to join our Education Place Planning team, based in Woking. The role offers hybrid working, with a mix of working from home and in-office collaboration at least two days per week.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part-time staff), increasing to 28 days after 2 years and 30 days after 5 years
• Option to buy up to 10 additional days of leave
• Extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) supporting health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave annually
• Paternity, adoption, and dependents leave
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Lifestyle discounts (gym, travel, shopping, etc.)
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Access to a learning and development hub

About the Role

The Education Place Planning Team collaborates with School Admissions and Land and Property teams to plan provision across the County. The role involves working with data, liaising with schools and communities, and managing public consultations about school changes.

This varied role includes tasks like writing briefings, visiting schools, and conducting consultations with pupils, parents, and communities. You will be the lead on public consultations, explaining the implications of school changes.

You will join a supportive team of four Managers, committed to staff development through ongoing training, including apprenticeship courses.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be shortlisted, your CV and responses should demonstrate:

• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Ability to collaborate with partners and professionals
• Data analysis and presentation skills to support decisions
• Knowledge of current education legislation and policies
• Experience managing complex projects or programmes

Transferable experience is welcome.

Application Questions

You will be asked to answer:

• Examples of working with school leaders or providers to influence change or deliver projects
• Experience taking proposals through political processes, including report writing and public consultations
• Your approach to managing the organisation of approximately 100+ schools and stakeholder issues, with examples

Contact and Application Details

For inquiries, contact Mike Singleton at [e-mail]. The application deadline is 23:59 on 04/06/2025. A basic DBS check is required.

Additional Information

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation, which will create new unitary councils in April 2027. This role will transfer to one of these new councils with existing terms.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, proudly being a Disability Confident Employer, offering guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants who meet minimum criteria, and welcoming applications from underrepresented groups.