People Development Manager (learning, skills, talent, capability)

Job summary

Shape the Future of People Development (learning, skills, talent, capability) 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 seeking an exceptional, proactive People Development Manager to join us to manage and embed an ambitious learning, leadership and talent agenda that directly supports our strategic priorities. This is a high‑impact opportunity to translate vision into action - setting direction, building people capability, and creating a high‑performing, inclusive culture across the organisation. If you are a specialist in learning, talent, organisational development or HR and want to have impact, influence change, and further develop your leadership career, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Job description

Role purpose and main duties:

You will be one of our two People Development Managers, reporting to the People Development Lead. You’ll play a pivotal role in working with senior leaders to build capability, leadership, skills and talent across the organisation while shaping our learning offer. As managers, together, you will lead a growing team and establish a people development function that delivers real, measurable value now and into the future. This is an exciting opportunity to grow a high‑performing team, set strong foundations, and bring creativity to a function where you can influence its direction, its people, and how we ‘get the basics right’.

You’ll bring a consultative, strategic mindset while maintaining a hands‑on approach to subject-specialist learning delivery. To thrive in this role, you will be data‑fluent, business‑focused, impact‑driven and innovative. You’ll adopt a project‑led approach, seek continuous improvement, and bring curiosity, collaboration and a proactive, solution‑focused attitude. As a natural network‑builder and effective communicator, you will engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, horizon-scan and bring insights and best practice and from across government and/or the wider sector. In post, you will be responsible for keeping abreast of cross-government learning and talent developments and ensure the work of the team is aligned and prepared for any changes. Although you will be supported well, you will need to be comfortable being proactive, a self-starter and working autonomously.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

Lead, develop and inspire a small team of People Development Advisors to deliver high‑impact learning, talent and leadership outcomes. Apply strong project management approach, champion inclusive ways of working, drive continuous improvement, and manage resources to ensure value‑for‑money decisions.

Partnering and Advice

Partner with senior leaders to provide expert advice, coaching and constructive challenge. Clarify priorities, capability needs and operational issues. Guide cost‑effective decisions and co‑design tailored, impactful learning solutions with subject experts.

Capability & Learning Needs

Shape capability, change and improvement programmes with specialist learning, skills and talent expertise. Diagnose skills, behavioural and cultural gaps, translating insights into learning objectives, capability frameworks and development pathways that support long‑term workforce sustainability.

Design & Delivery of Learning

Co‑create the annual learning plan and design blended learning that builds leadership and professional capability. Facilitate engaging, outcome‑focused experiences, collaborate with internal and external partners, and use emerging technologies to improve quality and accessibility.

Data‑Driven Practice

Use people data and performance insights to set learning priorities, evaluate impact and drive improvement. Provide clear, evidence‑based reporting and recommendations to leaders and boards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

Build strong, influential stakeholder relationships across the organisation and across government. Communicate learning priorities, progress and impact through reports, presentations and digital channels, ensuring high visibility and engagement across the organisation. Ensure PINS’ people development priorities and practices are aligned with, and maximise, centralised cross-government offers.

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

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.

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

Office Attendance

This role is contractually based 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. To provide leadership visibility and collaborate with colleagues, you can expect to be in the office at least twice a week (please consider this before applying).

Person specification

For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Experience & Knowledge

• Evidence leading and managing others in a Civil Service and/or corporate environment, delivering successful outcomes, developing capability, and building inclusive, high‑performing, collaborative environments that foster innovation. (Lead sift)

• Experience in Learning & Development, People/Organisation Development, HR, or similar professional learning settings, with a strong understanding of adult learning principles, behaviour change, organisational capability, and talent development.

• Demonstrated ability to design, implement and evaluate development solutions aligned to organisational goals, while navigating complex organisational environments, working across boundaries, and contributing to system‑level priorities.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong relationship‑building and stakeholder‑management skills, including the ability to influence, challenge and support senior leaders, shape shared priorities, and act as a confident business partner.

• Excellent strategic thinking and communication skills, able to set direction in complex or ambiguous contexts and convey information clearly to diverse audiences as well as deliver using a ‘hands on’ approach.

• Advanced facilitation skills with confidence delivering sessions to senior groups, supported by strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, including using data to inform decisions and demonstrate impact.

• Effective planning, prioritisation and organisational skills, able to manage competing demands and translate organisational needs into practical, high‑quality learning solutions; proficient in project‑management approaches and delivering at pace.

• Digital and data skills or the willingness and capability to upskill as required e.g Power BI, Excel, SharePoint, Learning Management System, Microsoft 365.

Technical (Qualifications)

Candidates must be able to demonstrate:

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or

• equivalent qualificatione.g. CPsych, Associate CIPD, MCIPD or

• equivalent relevant, professional experience and a commitment to achieving CIPD qualification within two years

Behaviours

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

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

Technical skills

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

• Evidence leading and managing others in a Civil Service and/or corporate environment, delivering successful outcomes, developing capability, and building inclusive, high‑performing, collaborative environments that foster innovation. (Lead sift)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,689, Planning Inspectorate contributes £13,525 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, Experience and Technical skills.

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, responsibilities 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 (1000 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
• Technical Example (250 words max): A short statement against the lead criteria shown below. 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.

Evidence leading and managing others in a Civil Service and/or corporate environment, delivering successful outcomes, developing capability, and building inclusive, high‑performing, collaborative environments that foster innovation. (Lead sift)

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

Interview

If you are shortlisted, you will:

• Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
• Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength, experience and technical questions
• Need to prepare and deliver a presentation

Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.

Other Information

Shortlist Date: 23 – 28 April 2026

Interview Date: w/c 11 May 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)