Graduate Programme – Project Officer

About Us

We are looking for a diverse group of highly talented and motivated graduates to join Richmond and Wandsworth Councils’ Graduate Development Programme.  You will be innovative, adaptable, enthusiastic and able to demonstrate a strong commitment to working to improve the boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth.  You will quickly take on responsibility for projects that will make a real contribution towards the impact and efficiency of local public services including contributing to our work supporting local communities, organisations and businesses. 

The successful applicants will have the opportunity to work across both councils, which have different political outlooks and priorities.  You may be working in Wandsworth and Twickenham on high profile projects such as Climate Change, Cost of Living programmes, Adult Social Care and Public Health, Children’s Services or supporting the co-ordination of projects related to our Great Employer programme.  You may be working on policy, events, communications, or you may be researching and engaging with the local community.  

Throughout the programme you will have a placement manager and a supervisor as well as your colleagues to support your development.  There will be opportunities to shadow Executive Directors and senior managers, to attend meetings with Elected Members to understand the political context of your work, and to participate in London-wide and national events. 

You will undertake a work-related qualification which will enhance your career prospects by developing your planning, communication, organisation, and management skills, this will most likely be in Project Management.  

The starting salary is £30,296 per annum and you will also receive 40 days (pro rata) annual leave inlcluding bank holidays.  Successful candidates will have the opportunity to progress to Scale 6 in their second year (subject to meeting requirements). This is a two year fixed term contract.  

About the role  

Please see Job Description and Person Specification which describes the varied tasks in this role – your likely duties will include -  

• Arrange and support meetings and events. 
• Research, prepare and write up reports and briefing papers  
• Work collaboratively with council departments and external partners.  
• Seek opportunities to improve your knowledge of local government learn about the services we deliver.
• Successfully complete a nationally recognised relevant work-related qualification e.g. Level 4 Associate Project Manager (usually taken over a 16 month period).  

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience 

We welcome graduates from all backgrounds and areas of study but you must have (or expect to achieve) a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree by July 2024.  You also need to –  

• have the right to work in the UK (we are unable to apply for visa’s).   
• be within 2 years of graduating from your first degree i.e. graduated no earlier than Summer 2022. 
• a minimum of 5 GCSE’s grades A-C including Maths and English (or equivalent).  
• have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the last three years (to meet funding requirements for training that you will undertake). 

Closing Date:  15th July at 11:59 PM 

Notification to shortlisted candidates   w/c 5th August 

Assessment and Interview Days   14th or 15th August, at Wandsworth Town Hall (you will be allocated to one of these dates if successfully shortlisted, the assessment day will be in person)  

Induction Week – 23rd September 2024 

Applicants online Information Session – you are invited to join us to hear more about this opportunity from those who are currently on the programme  -  

3rd July 2024, at 10.00 am – to register please follow this link - 

 https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6e173b45-4349-4414-863d-b1a6b011355d@d9d3f5ac-f803-49be-949f-14a7074d74a7 

8th July at 10.00 am - to register please follow link -  

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/12af696d-2d39-40d3-b09b-22f3ccd3db48@d9d3f5ac-f803-49be-949f-14a7074d74a7 

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.  This campaign is anonymised.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as flexible working and a generous pension plan.  

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils