Planning Policy Specialist

Job Description

Recruiter: Luke Byrne

Career Grade: D

Internal Closing Date: 20th May 2026

Locations: Birmingham, London or Ipswich

About the role

• To make sure that all of BT’s networks are as competitive as possible by driving the right level of capacity into the right places to deliver best in class performance and availability at best in class cost [using the right optimisation techniques].
• Provide the analysis to enable Technology to optimise networks so that they are economical and serve our customers well - the foundation of a secure profitable business, today and tomorrow.
• The work will generally fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Network optimisation - e.g. to find the right trade-offs in a complex environment.
- Policy development - e.g.to ensure the right engineering is carried out in the network.

With some:
- Cost modelling - e.g. to determine the right technology taking into account cost.
- Investment control - e.g. to ensure Technology Capex is spent wisely across Fixed Networks

What you’ll be doing

This role owns the development and maintenance of cross-domain planning policy for 21CN and Transmission network infrastructure to keep the network operating without overload but employing the minimum of capex and building out towards a sustainable and efficient future design.
• Leads on new policy introduction, after considering operational, regulatory and business impacts.
• Owns key network wide policy documents, that influence BTs network strategy
• Actively support the design community and provide planning policy input into related RIAs, feasibility studies, ITTs and designs.
• To act as a key contributor and provide expert advice to other groups on technical and operational issues.
• Proposes and champions changes to planning policies that lead to reduced cost, and/or improved efficiency of scarce space/power/cooling.
• Suport the concessions process.

Essential Skills / Experience

• A deep and detailed understanding of the UK 21CN (Core & Backhaul) and the services (Broadband, HE, MEAS) it provides.
• Ability to work closely with planners, designers, other LoBs & third party suppliers to deliver new policy on new products and services.
• Ability to understand the commercial drivers to improve commercial viability.
• Understanding of regulatory, fair trading and competition rules.
• To be able to directly liaise with senior architects, designers & platform owners.
• Proven ability to explain complex network issues in a clear and straightforward way to people across all levels of the business.

• Problem Solving.
• Technical Documentation.
• Stakeholder and relationship management.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Experience of working with capex budgets. PREFERRED
• Business analysis and planning. PREFERRED
• Decision Making. PREFERRED

Our Package

• 10% on target bonus
• BT Pension scheme, minimum 5% Employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
• From January 2025, equal family leave: receive 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It’s for all parents, no matter how your family is made up.
• Enhanced women’s health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.
• 25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service
• 24/7 private virtual GP appointments for UK colleagues
• 2 weeks carer’s leave
• World-class training and development opportunities
• Option to join BT Shares Saving schemes

BT Group is the UK’s leading communications group and the holding company behind some of the country’s most recognised brands – including BT, EE, Openreach and Plusnet. Our purpose is as simple as it is ambitious: we connect for good. Our customers include consumers, small, medium and large businesses, public sector organisations and other communications providers.

BT Group’s role is about setting direction, unlocking value and creating the conditions for our brands and businesses to thrive.

Having come through the most capital-intensive phase of our fibre investment, our focus now is on what comes next – simplifying how we operate, using technology and AI to work smarter, and organising ourselves to serve customers better and grow sustainably. Group teams shape strategy, policy, brand, capital allocation and transformation, helping the whole organisation perform at its best.

We have a singular culture that unites all our people: we are customer-first challengers, who are committed, clear and connected. These behaviours unite us as one team to deliver for our colleagues, our customers, our stakeholders and the country. Joining BT Group means working at the heart of a business that matters to the UK, with the opportunity to shape decisions, influence outcomes and help set the future course of one of the country’s most important companies.