An exciting opportunity has become available to work within the Transformation & Improvement Service, part of the Assistant Chief Executive’s Office. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role at the heart of the Council’s transformation agenda, helping to drive meaningful change and improve outcomes for our residents. The position is for 1 FTE (37 hours) per week.
About the role
The Senior Project Officer –is a key role in the Programme Management Office (PMO), working with senior colleagues including; Programme Directors, Heads of Service and senior leaders across the organisation to ensure the council’s priority improvement and transformation programmes and projects are delivered. The PMO is the hub for monitoring and assuring the successful delivery of major change programmes that will improve services, reduce spending, produce first class performance and help secure the economic future of the Council.
The PMO works with colleagues to ensure delivery by understanding blocks and barriers and working to find solutions. The Senior Project Officer has an important role in co-ordinating the day-to-day management of the MO supporting the Councils Corporate Improvement and Transformation Plan. The role of the PMO is to develop and ensure the consistent use of agreed project and programme management tools, standards and methods across the Council through provision of advice, guidance and assurance. The PMO enables and supports programme and project managers to provide progress and status reports to relevant programme and project boards, ensuring that key issues, dependencies and risks are understood and resolved.
The Senior Project Officer is responsible for providing assurance on a specific area of the organisation supporting a dedicated programme or programmes on behalf of the Chief Executive and Corporate Leadership team (CLT). This means they will work with directorates monitoring delivery against plans and undertaking check and challenge meetings with senior colleagues. This will entail ensuring that core delivery of the benefits of projects is tracked and delivered. Where there is deviation from agreed plans, ensuring that this is challenged and reported accordingly.
They will also attend the directorate level programme board/Directorate Leadership Team (DLT) meeting to represent the PMO and ensure good working relationships and advise on programme and project governance processes.
About you
You will be someone who wants to make a difference and enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues. You will have an eye for detail but also see the broader picture. You will have, or be willing to develop:
- Detailed understanding of Programme Management Office administrative and organisational support;
- A high degree of interpersonal skills;
- Comprehensive knowledge, understanding of and qualifications in project and programme management methodologies, e.g. MSP, PRINCE 2 or equivalent.
- Comprehensive understanding and experience of local authority organisational structures decision-making processes and transformational change imperatives.
- Detailed and expert knowledge and experience of an extensive range of Microsoft Applications and departmental databases. Experience of Power BI is an advantage
- A flexible approach to work.
To find out more about the essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the attached job description specification document.
In return we are able to offer:
- Enhanced annual leave - Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
- Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff)
- Flexible working pattern - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better
- Salary sacrifice green car scheme - Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’s no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease
- White goods salary sacrifice scheme - Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
- Enhanced public pension - Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
- Cycle to work scheme - Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
- Employee assistance programme - Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
- Discounted gym membership - Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:
- Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
- Off-Peak Racket Sports
- Athletics Tracks
- Sauna/Steam/Spa
Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you!
Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities.
We are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.
If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future - together.
Applicants should ensure all sections of the application form are completed as failure to do so will result in their application being rejected. Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however, please do not be discouraged from applying again.
For any technical enquiries please email [email protected]
Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.
For or an informal chat about the role please contact: Leeanne Forster, PMO Manager, 07779 062224, [email protected]
