People Development Advisor: Learning, Talent, Training

Job summary

This is a great time to join The Planning Inspectorate as we move forwards in delivering our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, against the backdrop of planning being a government priority. Our purpose is to maintain a fair planning system, support significant infrastructure development and help communities shape where they live - and we need engaged and skilled people to achieve this. We are in the middle of our Planning Inspectorate Strategic People Plan 2024-27, with the ambition of becoming “An even better place to work, that values and builds the expertise of its workforce”.

Our culture matters. At PINS, we care—about each other, our customers, and our performance. Guided by The PINS Way, we foster an inclusive, innovative, and collaborative environment where everyone thrives. Our values - such as Operate as One, Evolve and Enrich Through Learning and Invest in Success - shape how we work and celebrate achievements.

We’re looking for a proactive, curious, and influential People Development Advisor to join our People Development team within our People Unit. In this role, you’ll partner with leaders, teams, and specialists across the organisation to advise on, and develop skills, build capability and strengthen talent and leadership. If you want to make a meaningful difference, influence change, and grow your career in HR, Learning & Development, and Organisational Development, this is your opportunity.

Could this role with us be the next step in your brilliant HR, OD and/or Learning and Development career?

Job description

The People Development Advisor plays a vital role in ensuring the organisation has the right people with the right skills at the right time, to deliver current and future business priorities. The role focuses on building people capability aligned to business need, by working closely with stakeholders to understand business problems, diagnose skills and capability gaps, and design people development solutions.

This is a varied and high‑impact role where you will shape organisation‑wide development initiatives as well as support people development needs at a service level. You’ll combine expertise in learning, project management and talent development to design and deliver solutions that make a genuine difference. You will report to the People Development Lead or Specialist.

To be successful in post, you’ll need to be:

• Curious, consultative and outcome‑focused
• Self-motivated with a ‘can-do’ attitude
• Confident and credible, able to challenge constructively
• A creative problem-solver
• Innovative and horizon-scanner
• Collaborative, empathetic and people‑centred
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable with change
• Proactive, solution‑focused and committed to continuous improvement

Is this you? Are you ready to make a difference? Apply now to join us and help us build a future where people thrive, careers flourish and learning drives individual and the Planning Inspectorate’s success.

Key Responsibilities

The specific portfolio of the post-holder will be driven both by organisational priorities and the skills and strengths of the successful candidate. The post holder will contribute to developing skills, career paths, CPD, profession-based development, talent, leadership and line manager capability as well as supporting change projects, modern ways of working and learning, and long‑term workforce sustainability. The post-holder will take the lead on at least one of these areas. There may be line management responsibility.

Consulting & Advising

• Work with leaders, subject matter experts and stakeholders to identify priorities, operational challenges and capability needs.
• Diagnose root causes of capability gaps across skills, behaviours and culture.
• Challenge assumptions and translate broad requests into clear capability requirements and measurable outcomes.
• Ensure people‑development activity aligns with organisational priorities.
• Embed within service areas when needed to understand local needs and provide targeted support.

Capability & Learning Needs Analysis

• Conduct structured capability and learning needs analyses using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Lead discovery activities such as interviews and workshops to build a shared understanding of needs.
• Translate insights into clear learning objectives and development roadmaps.

Design & Delivery of Development Solutions

• Design and deliver blended learning solutions, programmes and digital content.
• Facilitate engaging learning experiences across digital, face‑to‑face and on‑the‑job settings.
• Apply behaviour‑change and change‑management principles to drive adoption and impact.
• Use emerging technologies to improve learning and performance.
• Collaborate with leaders, government partners and external providers to co‑create development opportunities.

Data‑Driven Insight & Evaluation

• Use skills data, analytics and engagement insights to inform decisions.
• Define success measures and evaluate the impact of learning initiatives.
• Produce clear, evidence‑based reports to support continuous improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders and influence alignment around development priorities.
• Lead people‑centred communication activities, including intranet content, guidance, events and presentations.

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. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Working hours:

Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available

Part time at 30 hours or above, flexible working hours policy available

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Office Attendance

This role is contractually based at our office in Bristol, 10-minute walk from Temple Meads train 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

What We’re Looking For

You’re a self-starter with a passion for learning, talent development, and people capability. You thrive on collaboration, influence, and delivering results and impact.

Essential Experience & Knowledge

• Experience in Learning & Development, People Development, Organisation Development, HR or a related field
• Demonstrable understanding of adult learning, behaviour change and organisational capability
• Experience designing, implementing and evaluating development solutions aligned to business outcomes
• Proven ability to partner, engage and influence stakeholders to deliver impactful people development services (lead criteria)

Essential Skills & Capabilities

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability including confidence using data to demonstrate impact and inform decisions
• Ability to communicate clearly to diverse audiences in a range of forms including facilitation
• Effective planning, prioritisation and skills and a project management approach
• Leadership and line management capability (or readiness to manage others)
• Network-building to drive collaboration, innovation and success

Essential Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 (or above) or equivalent qualification/experience
  (e.g. PGCE, CPsych, relevant professional accreditation such as Associate CIPD)
• the commitment to achieving CIPD qualification/accreditation within two years if not already held

Desirable Criteria

• Coaching experience
• Project management experience
• Line management experience

Qualifications

CIPD Level 5 (or above) or equivalent qualification/experience
(e.g. PGCE, CPsych, relevant professional accreditation such as Associate CIPD)

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,579, Planning Inspectorate contributes £10,886 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 11 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application

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, duties and achievements. 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 (750 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.
• A short statement against the lead criteria shown below (maximum of 250 words): This allows you to outline your experience and will only be used if there are a large number of applications. The minimum standard must be reached for applications to proceed.

"Proven ability to partner, engage and influence stakeholders to deliver impactful people development services”

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.

All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.

Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an virtual interview to be held via Teams on either Wednesday 4th or Thursday 5th March. Candidates are encouraged to keep these dates free.

The interview will be a blend of behaviour, experience and strength questions guided by the person specification above. Candidates will also be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation and the topic will be shared with shortlisted candidates in advance of the interview.

Other Information

Shortlist Date: 17 - 20 Feb 2026

Interview Date: 04 or 05 March 2026

Interviews will be held remotely using MS Teams. The interview will not be recorded or retained, other than usual interview protocol and in line with Civil Service Jobs privacy notice.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 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.

We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Julie Higgins
• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

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 (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
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. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitme…

Attachments

EVP(Great_Place_To_Work) Opens in new window (pdf, 534kB)