Job Title: Education Capital and Place Planning Officer
Location: Remote WFH with occasional visits to School’s around the Northamptonshire area.
Rate of Pay: £350 per day Umbrella OR £259.31 per day PAYE
Working Hours: Full Time hours – 37 per week
Type: Temporary Role until 31st July
Opus People Solutions are working with North Northamptonshire Council to recruit for a Education Capital and Place Planning Officer.
Purpose of the job:
To ensure the Councils meet their statutory duty to secure sufficient education provision across North Northamptonshire:
* Planning and reviewing of demand across the area
* Contributing to the commissioning and establishing of new places in consultation with other statutory bodies.
* Contributing to the development and on-going review of policies and procedures in respect of the planning and commissioning of 0-25 educational provision in line with established and changing national policies.
* Facilitate the conversion process whereby maintained schools become academies, operating independently from the County Council.
The Education Capital and Place Planning Officer will support the council’s delivery of its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places by identifying need and the determination of how school places should be provided through the delivery of new capital projects.
Principal Responsibilities:
* Lead statutory school place planning, working with Admissions, schools, planners, developers, and contractors.
* Monitor planning processes to identify Section 106 opportunities, using forecast data and infrastructure costings to support negotiations.
* Manage school capital projects, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and aligned with sustainability and value-for-money targets.
* Oversee risks, reporting, and deadlines, including Strategic Highlight Reports and Capital Programme Board updates.
* Manage external consultants and project documentation.
* Lead communication strategies, public consultations, and key project events.
* Handle complex stakeholder enquiries, including those from Members, MPs, and FOI requests.
* Stay updated on legislation, policies, and guidance relevant to the Schools Capital Programme.
* Evaluate procurement performance and contribute to strategy development.
* Support schools in developing Asset Management Plans, prioritising building maintenance and decarbonisation through funding opportunities.