Group Head of Planning and Insight

Central Bedfordshire College; Bedford (IN); On-site; USD 64,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Retail and Leisure Discounts

35 days annual leave + Bank holidays

Access to college courses

Job summary

Bedford College Group seeks a highly organised leader to head up Planning and Insight. You will drive business planning, performance reviews, and monitor group strategies, ensuring leaders have timely information to gauge progress and outcomes.

You will also provide market intelligence to shape curriculum planning, learner recruitment, and community reach, translating complex data into practical recommendations and actions.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent) and GCSE English and Maths.
• Experience analysing complex data and producing management information.
• Proven ability to manage projects and coordinate stakeholders.
• Strong Excel skills and the ability to turn data into actionable insight.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and improvement.

Responsibilities

• Head the Planning and Insight function across the Group.
• Lead business planning and performance review processes.
• Coordinate monitoring of group strategies and KPI progress.
• Provide market intelligence to inform curriculum planning and recruitment.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations and actions.

Skills

Data analysis

Performance insight

Project management

Stakeholder management

Advanced Excel

Communication skills

Education

Degree-level qualification

GCSE English and Maths

Tools

Excel

BI/MI tooling

Job description

Location: Bedford

Salary: £47,972 - £62,099 per annum DOE and qualifications

Expires: 02/11/2026 23:59

Role: Group Head of Planning and Insight

Location: Bedford, Cauldwell Street

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £47,972 and £62,099 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 35 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, Local Government Pension Scheme, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 per week/ 52 Weeks

Contract Type: Full time, Permanent

UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About The Role

We are looking for a highly organised and analytically minded leader to head up our Planning and Insight function.

This is a varied role that sits at the heart of decision-making across the Group. You'll lead our business planning and performance review processes, coordinate the monitoring of Group strategies and ensure leaders have the information they need to understand progress and performance.

Alongside this, you'll provide the insight and market intelligence that helps us identify opportunities, shape curriculum planning, support learner recruitment and maximise our reach across the communities we serve.

We're looking for someone who enjoys bringing together people, plans and data. You may come from a planning, insight, business intelligence, research or performance background, but you'll share a talent for translating complex information into clear recommendations and practical action.

If you're curious, organised and motivated by making a real difference through evidence-based decision-making, we'd love to hear from you.

About You

• Qualifications & Professional Development - Degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience), GCSE English and Maths, and a commitment to continuous professional development, with project management qualifications desirable.
• Data Analysis & Performance Insight - Experience of analysing complex data, producing reports and management information, and using insight to support organisational performance, growth, recruitment and improvement.
• Project & Stakeholder Management - Proven ability to manage projects and competing priorities, influence and collaborate with stakeholders, and support the delivery of strategic objectives.
• Analytical, Technical & Communication Skills - Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, advanced Excel skills, excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to turn complex data into clear and actionable recommendations.
• Professional Attributes & Flexibility - Proactive, inquisitive and evidence-led approach, strong relationship-building skills, commitment to continuous improvement, and willingness to travel and work flexibly to meet organisational needs.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held

9th November 2026

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About Bedford College

Bedford College has a number of sites across the town and surrounding areas, these include our main Cauldwell Street campus in the heart of the town, our hair and beauty salon on the High Street, the advanced automotive centre on Brunel Road and the gas and technology plumbing centre in Kempston.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsportalongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kelling which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students

The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.