Planning Manager - Req24334

Job title:         Planning Manager

Salary:            PO3 £40,221.00 - £43,421.04

Hours:            37

Contract:        Permanent

Location:        Office and hybrid working 

Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.

We have an exciting opportunity in the Sufficiency and Participation Team for a PO3 Planning Manager.

The national picture, mirrored in Leeds, has been significant demographic change over recent years, including fluctuations in the birth rate. We’re currently in a period where the birth rate has declined significantly. This means that the demand for learning places must be balanced with the number of learning places available across our schools, early years settings and in our post-16 provision. We also know that as a thriving economic centre, with large housing developments planned, that some growth is inevitable. This ‘cycle’ of change means that the work of the team is dynamic. 

One of the priorities in the council’s 3As plan is to support all children, young people, and families to access and regularly attend early years education settings and schools. We work with settings, partners, children, and their families to offer the best possible opportunities for all children and young people to attend, attain and achieve. 

Having the right number of learning places across the city is a key part of this. The team is responsible for delivering the council’s statutory duties around sufficiency of children’s services learning provision, including Early Years (0-4), Primary (4-11), Secondary (11-16) and Post-16. The team is also responsible for managing school academy conversions on behalf of the council, again a statutory function. The focus of the role is on medium- and long-term planning, and you may be assigned the lead role on projects in any of these work streams.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

This is a varied, high pressure and fast paced role at times, which whilst challenging is extremely rewarding. As a Planning Manager within the team you will bring to the role: 

• Strong communication skills as you’ll be engaging with a range of stakeholders, including head teachers, parents, ward councillors and other services and teams.
• Ability to plan and prioritise, managing competing demands to support the team’s statutory duties around 0-19 planning of places and academy conversions. 
• A positive approach and the ability to adapt to change.
• Project management skills and be creative in your approach to problem solving. 
• The ability to work collaboratively with others to shape and adapt ideas to find solutions. 
• An ability to interpret data, conduct research and  present in various formats relevant to the stakeholders. 

About the role 

As our next Planning Manager, you will have a key role in ensuring there are sufficient good quality learning places for all 0-19 year olds across the city. Although this is not a specific data role, you will be expected to analyse and interpret large demographic datasets to support the planning of both childcare and school places. 

The role will also involve managing various projects at the same time, across 0-19 planning and academy conversion work, and therefore utilising a project management approach is essential. 

The role is integral to some of the councils priorities within the Children and Young Peoples Plan 2023-2028, specifically supporting families to give children the best start in life, and well as improving achievement and attainment for all pupils.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Darren Crawley, Lead for Sufficiency and Participation on 01133787227 or email: darren.crawley@leeds.gov.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
 
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job description

Job purpose Work with settings, partners, children, and their families to offer the best possible opportunities for all children and young people to attend, attain and achieve. The team is responsible for delivering the council’s statutory duties around sufficiency of children’s services learning provision, including Early Years (0-4), Primary (4-11), Secondary (11-16) and Post-16. The team also has the responsibility for managing school academy conversions on behalf of the council alongside the Department for Education. 

Responsibilities 

• Lead on individual statutory academy conversion projects from start to finish using a project management approach, coordinating meetings with internal and external stakeholders and negotiating outcomes against competing deadlines. 
• Supervision and appraisal of staff in line with associated policies and procedures as required.
• Engage with a range of stakeholders, including head teachers, parents, ward councillors and other council teams, often on your own. 
• Plan and prioritise, managing competing demands to support the team’s statutory duties around 0-19 planning of places and academy conversions. 
• Respond positively and be adaptable to change.
• Project manage and be creative in your approach to problem solving. 
• Work collaboratively with others to shape and adapt ideas to find solutions. 
• Make formal presentations using a range of data and information sources, including conducting independent research.
• Lead a variety of internal and external meetings and at times present complex demographic information to varied audiences.
• Liaise and negotiate with schools and other stakeholders;
• Analyse data to interpret the need for places in an area;
• Work with schools and Multi Academy Trusts to support the planning of school places across Leeds;
• Lead/manage public consultations on statutory processes for making changes in schools; 
• Handle question and answer sessions in public consultation meetings alongside other team members;
• Prepare reports for Executive Board and other Boards/meetings;
• Ensure a joined-up approach to school place supply by working closely with the School Admissions Team, which is responsible for coordinating the admissions process and offer of places;
• Work with internal colleagues to help manage the city’s response to housing applications, managing the allocation of S106 funds to support growth in pupil numbers linked to housing developments and other duties linked to housing growth in the city;
• Work linked to Early Years provision leading on specific projects. This could include planning Early Years provision using a demographic approach around supply and demand, support the development of the annual statutory duty of producing the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment, the roll-out of the new wraparound and Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) proposals from 9 months old, and more;
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications: 

• Degree or relevant demonstrable skills or experience.

Essential requirements: It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Experience of leading meetings and discussions in a collaborative approach with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to shape and adapt ideas to find solutions and put forward ideas for improving processes or work practises and challenge appropriately where you feel something could be ‘even better’.
• Able to prepare analyse and present statistical or other data/information and make recommendations supported by evidence from a range of sources.
• Able to work flexibly across a range of simultaneous initiatives, to respond quickly within tight deadlines and handle change at short notice adapting your own approach as well as influencing.
• Able to demonstrate a good level of active listening approach to discussions handle challenging, robust discussions with stakeholders in a pressured situation.
• Able to demonstrate your contribution to effective team working and lead/manage effective meetings that have outcomes.
• Able to communicate, liaise and negotiate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people, through a variety of different methods demonstrating an open and flexible approach.
• Experience of working within a team and using organisational and time management skills to meet own and team’s work.
• Experience of using a project management style approach.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, policies and the ability to interpret and apply them consistently.
• Understanding of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection.
• Experience of managing / leading projects, where you’ve had to influence and negotiate along the way.
• Experience of communicating clearly and effectively with a wide range of people 
• Experience of Solving problems, on your own or collaboratively as part of a wider group.
• Experience of Working on your own and using initiative to adhere to timescales and deadlines.
• Experience of collating, producing and presenting complex data or information to a variety of audiences.
• Experience of Dealing with sensitive and confidential information appropriately. 

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics 

• Take pride in what you do, ‘own’ your own work/contribution to the team, learn and work to improve things that don’t go as well as you would want. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and be willing to work as part of a team that values and adopts regular training, thinking and discussion around EDI; 
• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council. 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.