Chief Operating Officer

Join the executive leadership team at the Planning Inspectorate and help shape decisions that influence homes, communities, infrastructure and the environment across England.

The Chief Operating Officer is one of the most important leadership roles in our organisation. The Planning Inspectorate sits at the heart of the planning system in England, helping to deliver decisions that shape homes, communities, infrastructure and the environment. The quality, timeliness and effectiveness of our work matter to citizens, applicants, local authorities, government and wider stakeholders.​

As our Chief Operating Officer, you will play a pivotal role in leading our organisation through a period of significant opportunity and change. You will be responsible for the performance, resilience and continuous improvement of our services, ensuring we deliver excellent outcomes while adapting to evolving demands and priorities. As a key member of the Executive Team, you will help shape our strategic direction, strengthen organisational capability and create the conditions for our people to succeed.​

We are looking for a highly effective and inclusive leader who combines strategic thinking with a strong focus on delivery, builds trusted relationships across government and the wider planning system, and is motivated by making a meaningful difference through public service.

If you are excited by purpose, complexity and opportunity to make a lasting impact then this could be the role for you.

Graham Stallwood, Chief Executive, is hosting a drop in session at 10am on Wednesday 2nd September, if you'd like to find out more (please use this link). Joining that session is a great way to get a feel for what it's like working with Graham and the wider organisation.

We are looking for someone who is :

Proven organisational leader – Experienced in leading complex, large-scale operations and translating strategic ambition into measurable outcomes that improve public services.

Performance and delivery expert – Brings a track record of driving performance, tackling systemic challenges and leading improvement in demanding, high-profile environments.

Influential systems thinker – Builds trusted relationships, aligns diverse stakeholders around shared goals and successfully delivers through complexity and ambiguity.

Strategic and resilient decision-maker – Uses insight, judgement and evidence to navigate risk, seize opportunities and maintain delivery through change and uncertainty.

That person should lead by:

Leading through others – Empower talented people, build capability and create the conditions for high-performing teams to thrive.

Relentlessly improving – Curious, collaborative and outcomes-focused, always seeking better ways to deliver for citizens, customers and stakeholders.

Things to know:

No two weeks are the same. One day, you'll be leading organisational performance and risk as a member of the Executive Team, shaping strategy and ensuring the Planning Inspectorate delivers high-quality services at scale. The next, you'll be working with government and senior stakeholders to influence policy, drive system-wide improvement and support the delivery of national priorities.

You'll lead through senior teams to improve performance, strengthen organisational resilience, tackle complex delivery challenges and build the capability needed for future success. You'll also represent the Inspectorate across government and the wider planning system, building partnerships that enable better outcomes.

Alongside strategic leadership, you'll develop future leaders, shape organisational culture and help define the long-term direction of both the Planning Inspectorate and the planning system itself.

This is a rare opportunity to combine operational leadership, public service impact and system influence in a role that helps shape communities, infrastructure and the future of England.

If you’d like to find out more or have any questions, please join the drop‑in session schedule 10:00-10.45am Wednesday 2nd September 2026 (link in the pack and below).

For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached.

Salary

This is an SCS 1 role and new entrants to the Civil Service can expect to be paid a salary of £94,694. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants.

New appointments to the Senior Civil Service will be appointed on the terms and conditions set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Working hours:

Standard working week is 37 hours, with our flexible working hours policy available for job share, compressed working hours and part time hours at a minimum of 30 hours per week. Occasionally, work outside these hours may be needed for business continuity, health and safety, or stakeholder engagement.

Office attendance

This role is contractually based at our office in Bristol, 10-minute walk from Temple Meads train station. Excitingly, we're relocating to a brand new office in December, while maintaining excellent transport links with Bristol Temple Meads station still just a 10 minute walk away. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance. To provide for senior leadership and collaboration with colleagues, you can expect to be in the office at least twice a week. Travel to other parts of the country to meet colleagues and stakeholders will also be necessary. Please consider this before applying.

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)

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

Application

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

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.
• 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.
• 250 word statement against the Lead Sift Criteria (Stated 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.

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.

• Proven experience setting direction and leading delivery at organisational scale in a complex environment, aligning senior stakeholders across functional and organisational boundaries to achieve tangible, sustainable outcomes.

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 strength questions
• Need to prepare and deliver a presentation
• Facilitate a Staff Panel discussion

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

Other Information

Drop-in date: 10am Wednesday 2nd September (please use this link).

Shortlist Date: 14 September 2026

Interview Date: 21 September 2026 (please save the date)

Staff engagement panels and interviews will be held at The Planning Inspectorate, Bristol. Further details will be sent with the invitation 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

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.