People Development Manager

Job summary

Shape the Future of People Development at the Planning Inspectorate (PINS)

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. We play a vital role in shaping communities, supporting economic growth, and ensuring fairness in England’s planning system. Our work influences lives, places, and the future - and we want you to be part of that impact.

We are proud of our purpose: delivering planning appeals, national infrastructure projects, and examinations of local plans. We share expertise with customers, communities, businesses, and government to enable positive planning outcomes.

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 - which include Operate as One, Evolve and Enrich Through Learning and Invest in Success - shape how we work and celebrate achievements.

We’re looking for a strategic, proactive and influential People Development Manager to join our People Development team within the People Unit. We are a collaborative, friendly, inclusive, high-performing team who work at pace and we deliver impactful outcomes. If you are a specialist in HR, L&D and/or organisational development and want to have impact, influence change, and further develop your leadership career, this is your opportunity.

We are keen to receive applications from both existing civil servants and from external candidates. To provide leadership visibility and collaborate with colleagues, you can expect to be in our central Bristol office at least twice a week including most Wednesdays.

Job description

Role Purpose

As a People Development Manager, you will be a trusted HR, Organisation Development and/or Learning & Development specialist, partnering with senior leaders to build the skills, leadership and capability needed to deliver organisational priorities.

Working at both strategic and operational levels, you will provide expert advice, challenge and consultancy on organisation-wide capability initiatives, organisational development, learning and talent initiatives. You will help leaders identify current and future capability requirements, diagnose organisational people development needs, and then develop and implement sustainable, evidence-based solutions that improve organisational performance.

Reporting to the People Development Lead, you will shape and deliver strategies for learning, skills, leadership, talent and capability development, ensuring people development considerations are embedded in business planning, transformation and change. You will bring an outward-looking perspective, drawing on your networks, best practice and emerging trends to drive innovative and effective people development solutions.

Success in this role requires the ability to think strategically, influence and partner, and the ability to navigate ambiguity, align stakeholders and translate complex organisational challenges into delivering practical outcomes. Your portfolio of people development priority areas will respond to business need and might include some of: AI skills capability, contributing to strategic workforce planning, developing career pathways and developing profession-led capability across our ten professions. As a manager, you will foster a collaborative, innovative and customer-focused approach across the team. There may be some direct line management responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnering & Leadership

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on organisational capability, learning, skills and talent.

• Build strong relationships across the organisation to understand priorities and shape people development solutions.

• Provide visible leadership, promoting innovation, inclusion and continuous improvement.

• Manage, coach and develop colleagues where applicable, fostering a high-performing team culture.

Capability, Skills, Talent & Organisational Development

• Diagnose organisational, professional and leadership capability needs.

• Design and implement solutions that strengthen workforce capability, leadership and organisational performance.

• Develop and support talent management, career pathways, succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

• Contribute to organisational change and transformation activity through a people development lens.

Learning and Development

• Develop, implement and evaluate learning and capability interventions aligned to organisational priorities.

• Translate complex business challenges into practical and impactful development solutions.

• Work with internal and external partners to deliver innovative learning approaches and best practice.

Stakeholder Engagement & Decision Making

• Influence and challenge senior stakeholders to drive informed decision making and organisational outcomes.

• Build consensus and manage competing priorities in complex and ambiguous environments.

• Communicate complex information clearly and persuasively to a range of audiences.

Insight & Continuous Improvement

• Use data, evidence and workforce capability insights to identify priorities and inform recommendations.

• Evaluate impact and use learning to continuously improve approaches, processes and interventions.

• Horizon-scan future trends, cross-government initiatives and practice, bringing external insights into the organisation.

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 available at 30 hours and above only.

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

Office Attendance

This role is contractually based in our contemporary, eco-friendly Bristol office, ideally situated just a 15-minute walk from Temple Meads train station. To provide leadership visibility and collaborate with colleagues, you can expect to be in our central Bristol office at least twice a week including most Wednesdays. Please consider this before applying.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience leading organisation-wide people development, learning, talent, or capability initiatives within a complex organisation, with demonstrable experience of delivering measurable improvements in workforce capability and people development outcomes. (Lead sift criterion)
• Experience and understanding across HR, Organisation Development, Learning & Development or Talent Management supporting organisational change or improvement initiatives.
• Proven ability to influence and advise senior leaders on strategic people and capability matters, managing broad portfolios, balancing competing priorities and delivering results in ambiguous environments.
• Stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared goals and communicate, facilitate and collaborate effectively.
• Strategic and analytical thinker, able to operate confidently in ambiguity, solve complex problems, anticipate future capability needs, and use data and evidence to inform recommendations and decision-making.
• Organised, insight-driven and innovative, with the ability to connect internal and external trends and insights, translating them into practical solutions that support people development, workforce capability and organisational priorities.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification / Associate CIPD),or equivalent qualification or accreditation or the equivalent professional experience and a commitment to achieving the qualification within two years if not already held.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,564, Planning Inspectorate contributes £13,779 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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: Use this section to provide details of your employment history, including your roles, dates of employment and key responsibilities. Tailor your employment history to demonstrate how your experience meets the requirements of the role. Please enter this information directly into the application form, as you cannot attach your CV.
• A Personal Statement (1000 words max): The personal statement is your opportunity to 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.
• As part of your application, you will provide a short statement against the lead sift criterion below, found in the Role Specific Questions section of the application. If we receive a high number of applications, we may use this criterion as an initial sift. You must meet the minimum standard for the rest of your application to be considered.

Experience leading organisation-wide people development, learning, talent, or capability initiatives within a complex organisation, with demonstrable experience of delivering measurable improvements in workforce capability and people development outcomes. (Lead sift criterion)

• You will also be asked to complete a multiple-choice question regarding your professional qualifications, accreditation, or equivalent relevant experience.

All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly after sift has taken place. Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.

Interview

If you are shortlisted:

• You will be invited to attend an interview to discuss your experience and suitability for the role
• Your interview will be a blend of behaviour, strength and experience questions
• You will be asked to prepare and deliver a short presentation

Other Information

Shortlist Date: w/c 23 November 2026

Interview Date: 08 or 09 December 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 9 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 basic (or equivalent) 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)