Senior Project Officer

Senior Project Officer

We have a Senior Project Officer post, working to our project managers in Children’s Transformation and supported and managed by the Transformation & Improvement Service.

The primary focus of the role is to support project managers to deliver successfully.

Key attributes will include:

1. Organisation
2. Attention to detail
3. Proactivity
4. Relationship building
5. Problem solving
6. Resilience
7. Communication

Key duties will include:

• Project planning support
• Risk and issue management
• Stakeholder coordination
• Reporting
• Governance support
• Benefits and action tracking
• Delivery coordination

An understanding of local authority systems and processes and experience in a similar environment would be beneficial, as well as a “can do” attitude.

Senior Project Officer – Children’s Transformation Programme

Help shape the future of Children's Services* in Cheshire East

Improving outcomes for children, young people and families is one of Cheshire East Council's highest priorities. To support this work, we are looking for candidates to join our Children's Transformation Programme through a number of exciting 12-month fixed term contracts.

Dawn Godfrey, Executive Director of Children's Services, said:

"Improving children's services is a priority for the council. We are committed to ensuring children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time, particularly those with the most complex needs. Through transformation, we are creating services that are more effective, sustainable and responsive, helping us achieve better outcomes for children and families across Cheshire East."

Opportunities Available

We are looking to fill several 12-month fixed term opportunities, including:

• Senior Project Officer

These roles provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience delivering complex, high-profile transformation projects, broaden your skills, expand your network and make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families across Cheshire East.

You do not need previous Children's Services experience. If you have the right skills, enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

What will you be working on?

Successful candidates will support a range of transformational projects and programmes, including:

1. 1. Digital Transformation

Redesigning and digitising processes across Children's Services to reduce administrative burdens, improve efficiency and support better decision-making.

1. 2. Right Child, Right Home Programme

A key programme focused on ensuring children receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time, including:

• Edge of Care - introducing evidence-based family interventions to help families stay together safely and reduce the need for children to enter care.
• Supported Accommodation for Young People Aged 16-25 - developing new accommodation and support options to improve transitions to independence and reduce reliance on costly external placements.
• National House Project - creating stable, long-term housing solutions for care-experienced young people to improve outcomes and independence.

1. 3. Data, Forecasting and Financial Sustainability

Developing forecasting and financial management tools that support better decision-making across Children's Services, with an initial focus on Children in Care, Care Leavers and SEND.

Working closely with senior stakeholders and service leaders, you will develop robust programme and project documentation, ensure effective governance, reporting and risk management, and help coordinate complex commissioning and procurement activity.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in delivering fundamental change across Cheshire East's major transformation priorities.

If you are a proactive project professional with strong stakeholder management skills and a passion for delivering impactful transformation, we'd love to hear from you.

Please contact either Chad Thompson (chad.thompson@cheshireeast.gov.uk), Leeanne Forster (leeanne.forster@cheshireeast.gov.uk) or Martin Middleton (martin.middleton@cheshireeast.gov.uk) for an informal chat about this post.

Attachments

• Senior Project Officer - PMO Job Description and Specification.pdf