Strategic Planning and Performance Manager

Job summary

The Planning Inspectorate's Strategy Team (part of the Finance, Commercial and Business Support Unit) leads effective strategy management and supports informed decision‑making. The team ensures strong organisational plans are in place and provides clear insight to help drive delivery across the organisation.

We are looking for a motivated and organised individual to lead our key governance cycles, including the development and monitoring of the annual business plan and the production of the annual report and accounts. You will bring an understanding of business planning and reporting, a commitment to high‑quality outputs, and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. We look forward to receiving your application.

Job description

Day‑to‑day responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the development and delivery of the annual business plan, bringing teams together to shape clear and ambitious priorities
  
  
• Tracking progress against strategic and business plan commitments, ensuring the organisation stays on course
  
  
• Leading the end‑to‑end production of the Annual Report and Accounts, delivering high‑quality, accurate, and impactful outputs
  
  
• Facilitating workshops and strategy sessions that spark collaboration, insight, and shared understanding across the organisation
  
  
• Gathering, reviewing, and refining content to strengthen planning and reporting, ensuring information is clear, consistent, and meaningful
  
  
• Managing annual governance cycles and project timelines, keeping activity running smoothly and driving momentum throughout the year

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 £46,689 Senior Executive Officer Grade.

Working hours:

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

Part time at 22.2 hours or above, 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.

Person specification

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

Essential Criteria:

• Experience and knowledge of the annual report and accounts production cycle, including the requirements of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
  
  

• Experience and knowledge of the business planning cycle
  
  

• Experience in managing competing priorities with sound judgement, coordinating projects, and organising work to deliver accurate outputs on time.
  

• Experience of clear communication with different audiences, producing accurate written information, reviewing content carefully, and working collaboratively to build positive relationships and meet shared deadlines.
  

• Experience of analysing information to understand issues, assess options and support decisions, including resolving complex problems and using Microsoft Office tools confidently
  

• Experience of handling sensitive information, awareness of information management legislation.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience using InDesign or other equivalent software

• Relevant qualifications (project management, administration).

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:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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 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 and duties. 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.
  
• Write a Personal Statement answering the following questions:

1. Please describe a time when you evaluated data or information to make a decision. Briefly outline the situation, what you analysed, the decision you made, and the outcome. (250 Words)
   
   
2. Please tell us about a time when you brought people or teams together to work collaboratively while managing competing deadlines. Include the context, what you did to engage others, and the outcome. (250 Words)

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.

• Experience and knowledge of the annual report and accounts production cycle, including the requirements of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
  
  

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, and experience 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: w/c 26 January 2026

Interview Date: w/c 9 February 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 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.

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 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 : Brenda McCarthy
• Email : Pins.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

For jobs with different grades or different contract types, ask as appropriate
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Attachments

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