Project Support Officer

Directorate: Chief Executive's

Section: Economic Development, Jobs, Enterprise and Training

Location: Various

Grade: Level 5

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed Term for 12 months

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

We are looking for an organised and motivated Project Support Officer to join our Jobs, Enterprise and Training (JET) team, helping us deliver employment support to residents across Stoke-on-Trent. This is a varied role at the heart of our employment services.

You will manage incoming referrals, support customers through their initial contact with the service, maintain accurate records and databases, monitor performance information and provide day-to-day project and administrative support to the wider team. You will also liaise with partners, arrange appointments and help ensure our programmes meet their funding, performance and data requirements.

We are looking for someone with strong organisational and communication skills, good attention to detail and confidence using Microsoft Office and data systems. You should be comfortable working to deadlines and targets, handling sensitive information and communicating with customers, colleagues and external organisations. Experience of project or office support, data handling and working within employment or welfare-to-work services would be particularly valuable.

In return, you will join a supportive team delivering services that make a real difference to local residents, helping people overcome barriers and move towards sustainable employment.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Chris Wakefield, Christopher.Wakefield@stoke.gov.uk

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage incoming referrals, carry out initial eligibility checks and ensure customers are directed to the appropriate member of the team

• Maintain accurate customer records, beneficiary files and databases in line with council, funder and data protection requirements

• Provide day-to-day project and administrative support to the JET team, including appointments, meetings, correspondence and general office systems

• Collate, maintain and report performance information to support delivery against programme KPIs and funding requirements

• Liaise with customers, colleagues and external partners to support effective referral handovers and resolve enquiries efficiently

• Support programme delivery through expenditure monitoring, record keeping and administrative support for employment activities, group sessions and community events

About You:

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload, work to deadlines and manage competing demands

• Good written and verbal communication skills, with confidence dealing with customers, colleagues and external partners

• Good IT skills, including experience of Microsoft Office, spreadsheets and ideally databases or customer management systems

• Experience of handling data accurately, maintaining records and working with performance information or KPIs

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, while also using initiative and working with minimal supervision

• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately, with strong attention to detail and an understanding of data protection requirements

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent

• Hybrid and flexible working options

• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme

• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK

• Proof of address

• Satisfactory references

• Occupational Health Clearance

• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations

• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.

To Apply

Please create / log into your account and then click 'apply'. If you have any queries or want an application form in another format, please email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call us on 01782 238189.

• Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?

Project ... (.pdf) (159kb)