Weston Placemaking Senior Project Officer INTERNAL ONLY

This vacancy is only open to North Somerset Council employees and agency workers contracted to North Somerset Council.

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Project Officer to join the Weston Placemaking Team. The Weston Placemaking Team are responsible, with partners, for leading delivery of the SuperWeston Placemaking Strategy (see SuperWeston.net), including the £25m programme of capital investments funded by government’s Local Regeneration Fund (formerly known as the Levelling Up Fund).

Key responsibilities:

• As part of the Weston Placemaking Team, support the planning, development and delivery of strategies aligned with organisational priorities.
• Manage the workstreams and delivery milestones in projects as part of the agreed strategy and programme to improve the outcomes for residents and secure best value for the organisation.
• Monitor programme and project progress, risk and dependencies ensuring delivery within agreed timescales and budgets.
• Assist with the monitoring and management of project budgets, funding allocations and expenditure, including preparing and reporting to both internal and external partners.
• Escalate project activity, where needed, in a timely manner to more senior managers to ensure obstacles to project delivery can be overcome or work plans adapted if necessary.
• Conduct robust investigation and analysis of project elements as requested to support informed decision making.
• Provide research and specialist support for project areas and strategy development, providing information and advice to identified stakeholders, partners or identified individuals as detailed within the project.
• Give information and advice to stakeholders and partners about placemaking and project delivery, constraints and opportunities.
• Establish & maintain appropriate links between colleagues and other professionals to encourage a clear understanding of each other’s priorities and ways of working.
• Responsible for developing and implementing mitigations to ensure that project milestones are delivered within acceptable financial margins, as part of governance principles; with agreement from senior managers.
• Communicate effectively with partners, colleagues, key stakeholders and residents, both verbally and in writing through the appropriate use of case notes and other record keeping within information sharing protocols and record keeping policies.
• Work with colleagues across all council departments to review arrangements and make recommendations for improvement in aligning work streams.
• Build consensus with stakeholders across and beyond the council to ensure the successful delivery of the SuperWeston Placemaking Strategy and associated programme / project delivery.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

This position is currently based at our Town Hall office in Weston-super-Mare.

Workstyle

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about placemaking and growth, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria:

• Vocational qualification or experience to equivalent to NQF level 6 in a related discipline such as project management.
• Approved professional qualification relevant to the area of work or extensive practical experience of working within the service area, giving rise to a variety of skills and sound understanding of the standards, legal responsibilities, work practices and processes relevant to the role.
• Experience of monitoring/supervising others within the same field of work.
• Knowledge and understanding of technical standards, safe working practices and legislation for service areas
• Ability to set, manage and monitor project budgets, identifying and flagging any variances.
• Ability to analyse designated areas of work and make decision to improve them.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact information

For further information about the role, please contact Joanne Drinkwater, Weston Placemaking Programme Manager at Joanne.Drinkwater@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Important information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Thursday 26 March 2026.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.