Education Capital & Place Planning Officer

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)