Project Officer

Job Title: Project Officer
Starting Salary: £35,570 progressing to £38,510 per annum
Hours: 37
Base Location: Farnham House, Stevenage*
Contract Type: Fixed Term/Secondment - 2 years
Directorate: Childrens Services

*This role will be expected to work from Howard Court, Welwyn Garden City (NHS Office) on a regular basis due to partnership nature of this role.

It is expected to have office presence 2-3 days a week.

About the team

The Improvement & Transformation Team work across the Inclusion & Skills and Education Directorates within Children’s Services, delivering projects and programmes that support the continuous improvement of services. In particular, we focus on Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion, driving improvement work that leads to better outcomes for children and young people.

This is an exciting time to join the team as we expand our project and programme capacity to deliver the Hertfordshire SEND Reform Plan. Our service work across the SEND Local Area Partnership, meaning we work regularly with the NHS, schools, settings and parent carer representatives.

You will directly support the Designated Clinical Officer for SEND who works across NHS provider services. You will work with local authority, health, education and parent carer partners to support delivery of the reform plan, improve children’s and young people’s experiences, and prepare the local SEND system for wider national reforms.

This role will be jointly hosted by Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. The employer will be Hertfordshire County Council, but the role holder will work across Council and NHS systems. This is an exciting role, that reflects the strength of partnership working in the Hertfordshire SEND System, and provides the role holder with a great opportunity to work across organisations.

You will be joining a well-established and supportive team with a track record of forging partnerships and delivering high impact within SEND and Inclusion.

About the role
We are looking for an organised, motivated Project Officer. The postholder will provide dedicated project support to the Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) for SEND, who works across NHS provider organisations, to help achieve the Hertfordshire SEND reforms.

As Project Officer, you will work across local authority and health governance arrangements, working closely with Project Managers, Improvement Managers and wider SEND Partnership stakeholders. You will coordinate activity required to deliver the SEND reforms, maintain plans, risks, issues, actions and decisions, organise meetings and engagement, and support high-quality reporting and communications through the Programme Management Office.

This is a great opportunity for individuals who enjoy coordinating projects and working with a wide range of stakeholders. If you’re motivated by meaningful change, thrive in complex environments, and want to help shape the future of local services that support children and young people, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide dedicated project support to the Designated Clinical Officer for SEND, coordinating local authority and health activity, timelines, milestones, dependencies and documentation required to achieve the SEND reforms.
• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations and data summaries, using established tools, templates and project management systems.
• Analyse project information and data, identifying trends and contributing to insights to support decision-making and progress tracking.
• Organise and support project meetings, including scheduling, preparing materials, and capturing clear notes, actions and decisions.
• Support the planning and delivery of workshops, events and engagement activities, ensuring smooth coordination with partners and stakeholders.
• Act as a point of contact for project queries, responding to enquiries, resolving routine issues and escalating where appropriate.
• Support consistent and high-quality communications, working with Project Managers and Improvement Managers to ensure stakeholders are kept informed and engaged.
• Maintaining accurate records, monitoring progress and helping ensure activity aligns with key objectives.
• To fulfil these duties, the post holder will work across Council and NHS information and diary management systems

About you

Essential:

• Significant experience coordinating projects, with an excellent understanding and experience of using of project management methods, tools and documentation.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain pace and deliver to deadlines.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and present information clearly.
• Strong problem-solving skills, able to identify issues, propose practical solutions and support implementation.
• Strong digital and ICT skills, with confidence using tools to support project delivery, reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Clear communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage with a range of stakeholders and prepare high-quality written reports.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work.
• A collaborative, system-focused approach, with the ability to build effective relationships and work across local authority and health organisational boundaries while supporting colleagues and contributing to shared outcomes.
• Resilience and adaptability, with the ability to work effectively in complex environments with evolving priorities.

Desirable

• Supporting delivery of projects within a cross-organisational or partnership environment
• Knowledge of national SEND policy, inclusion, and/or support for children with additional learning needs
• Knowledge of children’s health policy and practice

This role will be at the centre of SEND reform and improvement in Hertfordshire, as part of a growing team. It is a fast-paced area but very rewarding. This is a great opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with SEND in Hertfordshire.

Please note that this advert could close before the Advert Closing Date if we receive a high number of applications.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 9 Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles: Project & programme

To hear more about this opportunity please contact erin.bradley1@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 5th November (PM only) & 6th November (AM only)

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Secondment
This role is open to secondments for eligible employees who work for HCC. If you wish to apply on a secondment basis, you must have your line manager’s approval before submitting your application. You will be asked to confirm this within your application form. If you are not eligible for a secondment (e.g., you are currently on a fixed‑term contract that would end before this positions ends) or you indicate that your manager cannot support a secondment, your application will be considered on a fixed‑term contract basis instead.

Additional information

We are changing
Hertfordshire County Councilis undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.