Digital Planning Innovation Officer

How you'll make a difference

As a Digital Planning Innovation Officer, you will support the delivery of the Government’s Open Digital Planning Programme, helping to coordinate digital and data improvement initiatives that enhance planning services and customer experiences. Working across a range of projects, you will review current processes, analyse data, test and implement new digital tools and systems, and identify efficient, value-for-money ways of working that support service improvement and innovation.

This is an opportunity to work in a hands-on improvement role that combines digital development, data analysis, research, project coordination and stakeholder engagement.

What you will be doing

• You will support the delivery of the Government’s Open Digital Planning Programme and wider Planning Service improvement initiatives, helping to drive innovation and digital transformation across the service.
• It will be your responsibility to coordinate digital and data workstreams, supporting the delivery of practical improvement projects from initial research and testing through to implementation and evaluation.
• Reviewing existing processes and data, you will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance customer experience and support more effective ways of working.
• You will test and support the adoption of new digital tools and technologies, gathering user feedback, monitoring outcomes and helping colleagues adapt to new systems and processes.
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders, central and local government partners, software suppliers and the wider Open Digital Planning community, you will share learning, best practice and innovative approaches.
• It will be key for you to undertake research, analyse evidence and benchmark performance against other local authorities, using your findings to develop recommendations, support business cases and inform service improvement decisions.

What we need from you

• It is essential that you hold a project management qualification, such as APM or PRINCE2, or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience of delivering digital and data-led improvement projects, with a focus on innovation, performance improvement and achieving value for money.
• You will have experience of supporting or delivering digital transformation and service improvement initiatives, with the confidence and enthusiasm to learn, test and implement new tools, systems and ways of working.
• We are looking for someone with excellent organisational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, workstreams and stakeholders simultaneously while managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Comfortable gathering, interpreting and analysing information from a range of sources, you will be using evidence and data to identify opportunities for improvement and support informed decision-making.
• Having strong communication and relationship-building skills will be key, as you will work collaboratively with planning colleagues, wider council services, government departments, other local authorities, software suppliers and external partners.
• You will be adaptable, proactive and curious, with the ability to respond to the rapidly evolving digital planning landscape. You will be committed to continuous improvement and able to translate emerging ideas, research and learning into practical solutions that improve services for customers and colleagues.

What you need to know

• You will be based at Badminton Road Offices, working a hybrid working pattern, with mix of office and home working.
• This is a limited term contract, due to end 3rd January 2028.

Interviews are to be held week commencing the 14th December 2026.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.
• What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos, the support and the training.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We’re providing essential services across our internal network to ensure we can fully support our community.
• We’re positive and forward thinking, always looking for new and innovative ways of working work and we’re ambitious about the future.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: Digital Planning Innovation Officer job description