Details
Reference number
427653
Salary
£45,219 - £49,462
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
PINS - Operations
Type of role
Administration / Corporate Support
Business Management and Improvement
Operational Delivery
Planning
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Compressed hours
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Bristol, South West England, BS1 6PN
About the job
Job summary
The Delivery, Productivity & Workforce Team is a new team that has been created to provide a strategic, cross-cutting approach to planning, reporting, continuous improvement and centralised services.
This role has a distinct set of responsibilities and requires a different set of skills and experience.
Job description
We are looking for candidates who have experience in these areas:
* Proactive – able to take initiative and drive work forward independently.
* Motivated – brings energy and commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes.
* Adaptable – thrives in fast-paced environments and is comfortable with ambiguity.
* Collaborative – works well with others and builds strong, effective relationships.
* Influential – able to communicate clearly and persuasively at all levels.
* Strategic – sees the bigger picture and contributes to long-term planning.
* Analytical – confident using data to inform decisions and shape workforce strategies.
* Solution-focused – tackles challenges with a positive, problem-solving mindset.
* Credible and confident – able to deliver results through others and influence change.
If you're someone who enjoys working across teams, shaping strategy, and making a real impact on how we plan and develop our workforce, we'd love to hear from you.
In addition, all candidates must be comfortable working at pace and with ambiguity. You must be a competent and credible communicator who is able to deliver results through others and you must be able to review and analyse data to produce plans and implement change in an operational context.
A typical day may involve meeting with stakeholders to gather information or keep them updated, producing or reviewing plans based on emerging risks/changing priorities, working with other leaders to help implement change and reviewing data to check delivery against goals.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. In either case is determined by whichever is the highest
This role is being advertised at SEO (GRADE)
Working hours:
Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available.
Part time at 22 hours or above, flexible working hours policy available.
The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people's lives, the communities where they live and the economy.
We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.
For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers
Office Attendance
This role is contractually based at Temple Quay House, Bristol which is currently out of use due to undergoing refurbishment work. In the interim, we have the use of alternative office space in very close proximity to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units - the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.
Person specification
We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria and Experience elements listed:
Essential Criteria
* Experience of workforce planning in a large and complex organisation with multiple services/product lines.
* Experience of skills analysis and use of this to inform a workforce planning strategy.
* Experience of forecasting supply and demand.
* Experience designing and implementing strategy, change or projects.
* Ability to communicate, influence and operate clearly and effectively at all levels, including with stakeholders, employees and senior leaders.
* Experience of building strong working relationships with excellent negotiating and influencing skills and the ability to secure agreement to solutions.
Desirable Criteria
* Experience of conducting work studies or time in motion exercises.
* Experience of leading recruitment campaigns.
* Experience of scheduling the work of large and busy teams.
For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process, Civil Service Careers
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Changing and Improving
* Delivering at Pace
* Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £45,219, Planning Inspectorate contributes £13,099 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
* A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
* 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King's birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
* Generous family friendly policies.
* Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 10 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application
For guidance on how to structure your application please seeAbout the application process, Civil Service Careers
Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:
* A CV: The CV section lets you share your job history. List your jobs, how long you worked at each, and briefly describe your roles and duties. Make sure to show how your experience matches the essential criteria of the job you're applying for. Type or paste this information into the 'Employment History' box in the online application. You can't attach your CV.
* A Personal Statement (1000 words max): The personal statement lets you explain why you're a good fit for the job in more detail. Use it to show how you meet the essential criteria listed in our advert and connect your answers to the experience elements we're looking for.
If there are many applications, we might use a lead sift. This means we'll first check if you meet the key requirement listed below. If you don't, we won't review the rest of your application.
* Experience of workforce planning in a large and complex organisation with multiple services/product lines.
All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, you will:
* Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
* Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength, and experience questions
* Need to prepare and deliver a presentation
Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.
Other Information
Shortlist Date: w/c 29 September 2025
Interview Date: 14 October 2025
Interviews will be held in person at The Planning Inspectorate in Bristol, full details will be sent with the interview invites.
The Planning Inspectorate does not fund travel and subsistence for candidates to attend interviews.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment
The Civil Service Careers site has published a new page for candidates, covering what they should consider before using AI in their applications or interviews. Please click on the link below:
Artificial intelligence and recruitment
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Future Matches
Candidates who demonstrate strong potential and future readiness but score just below the required level at interview may be considered for alternative positions. These roles may be at a lower grade but align with their skills and offer opportunities for growth.
ID and Documents
If the job needs specific qualifications or memberships and you get the job, you'll need to send scanned or photographed images of them before you start.
We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.
Visa Sponsorship
The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates; we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.
Disability Confident Interview scheme/Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service values diversity and offers equal opportunities. We have a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the job's minimum criteria. We will also provide reasonable adjustments to all where possible. For more information please see Reasonable Adjustments, Civil Service Careers.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : Aron Pharawaha
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact in the first instance: The Vacancy Manager via the Recruitment Team ).
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team ).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission.