- Suffolk County Council
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Location: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX - Hybrid working
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Salary: £25,185 per annum (pro rata for part time)
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Hours: 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
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Contract: Fixed term or secondment for 23 months (apprenticeship)
When you join the Skills and Employment Team at Suffolk County Council as an Apprentice Connect to Work Project Officer, we’ll support your development from the start. We will help you to play to your strengths, diversify your skills and build an influential and impactful career. With a variety of career paths and learning opportunities to explore, if you’re motivated and passionate there’s no limit to how far your ambition could take you.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
We are seeking a motivated and collaborative Project Officer to support the delivery of the Connect to Work programme across Suffolk. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a high-impact initiative that helps people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and complex barriers access sustainable employment.
As part of Suffolk County Council’s Skills Team, you will play a key role in ensuring the programme operates to high standards of quality, compliance, and performance.
In this role, you will work closely with delivery partners and internal stakeholders to monitor performance, maintain robust governance, and drive continuous improvement. You will:
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Support quality assurance processes, including audits, case reviews, and compliance checks against contractual and regulatory requirements.
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Help prepare for internal and external inspections, reviews, and funder scrutiny, ensuring evidence is accurate and accessible
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Work with partners to embed best practice and implement continuous improvement plans.
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Produce reports, dashboards, and insights to support decision-making and programme oversight.
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Provide guidance to colleagues and partners on compliance, data protection, and programme standards.
Your apprenticeship
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Apprenticeship: Associate Project Manager - level 4 - Associate project manager / Skills England
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Duration: 23 months
We welcome apprenticeship applications from all ages and backgrounds. There's no upper age limit - it's never too late to start developing new skills. We want to provide opportunities for anyone interested in launching or advancing their career.
The apprenticeship you're applying for must build on your qualifications. If you have experience in this field, the apprenticeship you're applying for must be at a higher level.
Read the Job and Person Profile, see the how to apply section below, and the Apprenticeship Recruitment Brochure. During the apprenticeship, you'll be working towards the role described in the Job and Person Profile. You will have the opportunity to receive hands-on training and pursue certification. Completing your apprenticeship does not guarantee a full-time position. However, we are dedicated to helping you find a job. You will have priority access when you apply for vacancies. This applies during the final 3 months of your contract.
You will need
You will be a proactive and detail-oriented individual with strong organisational and analytical skills, able to work collaboratively across a range of partners. You will bring:
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Strong communication skills, with the ability to produce clear reports and build effective relationships.
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A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and a passion for making a difference for Suffolk residents.
The team
This role sits within the Adult Skills and Employment Team and is at the forefront of developing economic growth in Suffolk and the surrounding region supporting the development of a pipeline of talent for our local economy.
We are excited to be able to bring Connect to Work to the residents of Suffolk and are eager to welcome an enthusiastic, dedicated and friendly member of the team to ensure that we make the project a success!
The team practice hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days a week in the office and this role has the opportunity to visit the project’s delivery partner venues across Suffolk
This role offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills through an Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship while contributing to a programme that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
You will be part of a supportive, collaborative team in a flexible working environment, with opportunities to shape service delivery and continuously improve outcomes for local communities
Empowering Everyone
We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information
Please contact Lyndsey Hessey (he/her), Deputy Adult Skills and Employment Lead for a casual conversation. You can contact her by calling 01473 264346 or emailing: [email protected]
If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).
1. What interests you about the Connect to Work Project Officer apprenticeship, and how do you think this opportunity will help you develop your skills and career?
2. Please describe an example from work, study, volunteering, or everyday life where you had to organise tasks, manage your time, or keep something on track. What did you do, and what was the outcome?
3. Connect to Work supports people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and other barriers to employment. What interests you about this role, and how would you contribute to an inclusive and supportive service?
Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at: [email protected] or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.
Closing date: 11.30 pm 30 June 2026.
Interview date: 8 July 2026.
[For SJD Enhanced] Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
