People Services Associate

Job summary

As a People Services Associate, you'll play an important role in ensuring employees and managers receive timely, accurate and practical support throughout the employment journey. Working within the People Centre team, you'll help deliver a range of people services, supporting activities such as recruitment, employee records, contractual changes, payroll and benefits administration.

By providing accurate advice, maintaining high-quality records and supporting continuous improvement, you'll help create a positive experience for colleagues across the organisation while contributing to the delivery of an effective and professional People service.

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England.Our work has a direct impact on people’s lives, the communities they live in and the economy. We are committed to creating a flexible, collaborative workplace and continually looking for new ways to improve how we deliver our services.

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

Job description

We're looking for someone with experience in human resources (HR), administration, customer service or a similar environment where accuracy, organisation and providing support to others are important. You'll be comfortable managing a varied workload, maintaining accurate records and using digital systems to process information and complete tasks to a high standard.

You'll be able to communicate clearly and confidently with a wide range of people, providing practical advice and explaining policies and processes in a way that is easy to understand. You'll be comfortable handling sensitive information appropriately and using your judgement to identify solutions and resolve routine issues.

We're also looking for someone who works well with others, takes pride in delivering a reliable service and is motivated to learn and develop. You'll enjoy contributing ideas, supporting improvements and helping ensure colleagues receive a professional and consistent experience whenever they interact with the People team.

As a people services associate, your day will be varied and you’ll deal with a broad range of queries and processes. You’ll be

• Supporting colleagues by responding to queries that come through the People Service Desk, offering clear and friendly first‑line advice or referring to our specialist teams.

• Managing changes to contracts, pay, benefits or personal details — making sure our HR systems are accurate, up‑to‑date and compliant.

• Informing third‑party partners like payroll, pensions and benefits providers when changes are needed.

• Supporting monthly payroll activities, checking information is correct, and uploading to our payroll provider.

• Raising purchase orders, processing invoices and managing purchasing card payments, ensuring everything is recorded accurately.

• Maintaining and updating intranet content and guidance so colleagues always have access to clear, current information.

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.

This role is being advertised at EO grade.

Working hours:

Standard working week is 37 hours, Part time at 30 hours or above, flexible working hours policy available.

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. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and take a flexible approach to in-person attendance, which may vary depending on the requirements of individual business units. Further details can be discussed with candidates invited to interview.

Person specification

We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria and Experience elements listed:

Essential Criteria

• CIPD Level 3 qualification (or equivalent experience), or a commitment to achieve CIPD Level 3 within two years of appointment.
• Knowledge of employment legislation and HR policies, with the ability to apply this knowledge in a practical people services environment.
• Experience of delivering HR administration across a range of employee lifecycle activities, such as contracts, pay, benefits, employee records and policy-related processes.
• Experience of using HR systems and digital tools to process transactions, maintain accurate records and produce high-quality work with attention to detail.
• Ability to provide clear, accurate and practical advice to managers and employees, explaining policies and procedures and handling sensitive or confidential matters appropriately.
• Proven organisational, communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and identify appropriate solutions.

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

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,154, Planning Inspectorate contributes £9,315 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 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 (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 and connect your answers to the Success Profile elements we're looking for.

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.

• Knowledge of employment legislation and HR policies, with the ability to apply this knowledge in a practical people services environment.

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 and Experience questions.

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

Other Information

Shortlist Date: 26th – 30th November 2026

Interview Date: 14th and 16th December 2026

Interviews will be held at The Planning Inspectorate, Bristol, further details will be sent with the invite to interview.

The Planning Inspectorate does not fund travel and subsistence for candidates to attend interviews.

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.

Merit list order

We appoint in merit list order, starting with any permanent appointments followed by any fixed term appointments.

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 : Liz Sweet
• 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 Talent Acquisition 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 Talent Acquisition 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

250318_EVP(Great_Place_To_Work) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 555kB)