NEW OPPORTUNITY – North Northamptonshire Council
Job Title: Education Capital & Place Planning Officer
Council: North Northamptonshire Council (Kettering)
Rate: £500 per day (Inside IR35 via Umbrella)
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Contract Length: 3 months initially
This is a key role within Children’s Services focused on ensuring sufficient school places across the area, combining place planning, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of education capital projects.
There is a strong emphasis on managing live capital schemes (new schools, expansions), working closely with stakeholders, and supporting the schools estate strategy, including decarbonisation and asset management planning.
Key responsibilities:
* Lead on school place planning, using demographic data, housing growth, and capacity analysis
* Support commissioning and delivery of new education provision across 0–25
* Manage education capital projects end-to-end (new builds, expansions, improvements)
* Work closely with planning teams on Section 106 contributions and developer negotiations
* Prepare reports, business cases, and briefings for senior leaders and members
* Manage external consultants, contractors, and project delivery partners
* Lead stakeholder engagement including schools, MATs, DfE, councillors, and communities
* Support academy conversions and wider organisational changes
* Contribute to estate strategy, including decarbonisation initiatives and asset management planning (GEMS)
Desired experience:
* Strong background in education place planning and/or capital delivery within local government
* Experience managing or supporting school capital projects and commissioning activity
* Confident analysing demographic data, pupil forecasts, and capacity planning
* Experience working with planning teams and S106 funding negotiations
* Knowledge of DfE guidance, Education Act responsibilities, and statutory sufficiency duties
* Proven stakeholder management across schools, MATs, and public sector partners
* Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and reporting requirements
* Degree level or equivalent (e.g. NVQ4, HNC)