Senior Project Officer - Req25014

Job title:  Senior Project Officer

Salary:  Grade PO4 £43,421.04 - £46,464.00

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: Office & hybrid working

Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.

Everything we do in Climate, Energy and Green Spaces is driven by Leeds City Council’s ambition to become the first net zero city in the country and to be well prepared for future climate impacts. As well as helping to address some of the biggest environmental issues of our time, this work has immediate benefits for Leeds businesses and residents.

Since declaring a climate emergency, Leeds City Council has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in our plans to reduce the city’s contribution to climate change and to improve the city’s resilience against future climate hazards.

Working as part of the Climate & Energy team, you will live and model values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As Senior Project Officer, you will have experience of project management in relation to public sector infrastructure projects, as well a proven ability to work highly effectively with internal and external partners to develop relationships of mutual trust and respect.

You will have a track record of resilience and determination in resolving complex issues such that we can ensure value for money for the Council and support stakeholders in the city in reducing their environmental impacts.

You will have experience of procurement and contract management and be able to demonstrate excellent skills in working with and presenting data and financial information.

About the role 

This is an excellent opportunity to work on an exciting and fast-evolving infrastructure venture for the Council, making a real impact in terms of the achievement of our net zero carbon targets.  You will have a key role in the management and ongoing development and expansion of the Council’s flagship district heating network.

You will lead on non-complex projects and support with the delivery of complex projects, both in relation to the management and development of the existing heat network and the delivery of planned new phases.

The role is expected to include all aspects of project management, including developing business cases, procurement, contractor and customer liaison, performance monitoring, risk assessment, budget monitoring and stakeholder management.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Andrew Lingham, Senior Project Manager on 0113 378 6370 or email andrew.lingham@leeds.gov.uk.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
 
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Leeds City Council Job Profile

Job Purpose:

Everything we do in Climate, Energy and Green Spaces is driven by Leeds City Council’s ambition to become the first net zero city in the country, with the City best prepared for future climate impacts. As well as helping to address some of the biggest environmental issues of our time, this work has immediate benefits for Leeds residents. 

We are at the forefront of the council’s strategy for a sustainable city. Since declaring a climate emergency, Leeds City Council has invested hundreds of millions of pounds on our plans to end the city’s contribution to climate change and to improve the city’s resilience against future climate hazards.

Working as part of the Climate & Energy team, you will live and model values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country. 

Your role will be important in supporting the achievement of our Best Council ambitions to: be efficient and enterprising; become more financially sustainable and resilient, safeguarding public funds while achieving value for money; have a modern, efficient, sustainable estate; promote a more competitive, less wasteful, more resource efficient, low carbon economy. 

The post holder will be responsible for leading limited complexity projects and supporting professional and management functions in respect of projects and sub projects of complex projects as well as supporting the authority to meet a range of statutory and regulatory undertakings in relation to, for example, procurement, planning and highways and supporting the provision of advice to elected members and directorates on related commercial or other activity. 

The Senior Project Officer will be able to demonstrate relevant skills and experience in project management and will be responsible for leadership functions of non-complex projects, or the management of a sub-project within a complex project in most competence elements of project management. 

Further responsibilities also include supporting the management of projects on behalf of the council, utilising and coordinating resources from across the Council, and contributing to innovation in project development. 

Responsibilities:

• Support and deliver non-complex projects or complex sub-projects, planning, organising, co-ordinating, delivering and monitoring sub projects and workstreams to ensure agreed outcomes within a context of budget pressures and funding restrictions. 
• Support the management of projects and the application of project management tools, techniques and controls, ensuring the delivery and improvement of services which meet the needs of our communities and stakeholders. 
• Provide advice on project matters across the authority to senior officers and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to effective joint working within the council. Provide direction and support to colleagues, clients and immediate line reports, creating an organisational culture of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement. 
• Contribute to new ways of working and to partnership working and relationships with key clients both internal and external to the council, to improve corporate priority outcomes and to ensure that developments and improvements remain focused on delivering outcomes for local people. 
• Promote and support positive solutions to achieve diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement activity and human resource areas. 
• Support effective consultation and communications with colleagues, clients, councillors, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with council policy. 
• Support open, responsive and accountable government, ensuring good governance compliance with financial and procurement procedures. 
• Manage all aspects of risk and be responsible for the safety of staff, clients and contractors in accordance with all statutory obligations and relevant health and safety policies. 1. Manage non-complex projects and/or sub projects of complex public sector projects, contributing to key project documentation and effective project decision-making, data analysis, reporting, governance and delivery. 
• Support the matrix management of resources within projects across the council. 
• Advise colleagues and internal Clients on the project delivery of non-complex projects including coordinating associated commercial input and interfaces with other professions such as legal, finance and technical. 
• Manage and lead the identification and mitigation of risks and issues in all projects. 
• Provide advice to the council on standards for the delivery of non-complex projects and complex project sub projects through the development of project initiation/pre-procurement documentation for the feasibility, project initiation, expression of interest and outline business case stages of a project, including undertaking options appraisal and developing pre-procurement strategies for the presentation of projects to the market. 
• Lead the development and implementation of project management tools and techniques including developing business cases. 
• Support the identification and pursuit of relevant funding opportunities, completing applications and supporting the development of bids to external bodies to support the council’s objectives. 
• Act as a mentor for the council in disseminating project ideas and best practice to Clients and other project management professionals. 
• Implement standardised project management methodologies including managing the organisation of projects, development of objectives, benefits realisation, risk, issues, actions, configuration logs, scope, resources, programming/planning, costs, reporting and change. 
• Support the undertaking of stakeholder consultation, developing communications and stakeholder plans in relation to the council’s projects. 
• Support the delivery of complex multi competing workstream projects (e.g. complex public sector procurements) in accordance with the council’s governance and management arrangements. 
• Provide support to the formulation of bids to Government agencies in relation to complex public sector projects in accordance with the council's asset management priorities. 
• Ensure compliance with statutory undertakings. 
• Ensure safety and safeguarding requirements are complied with. 

Qualifications:

The following are essential:

• Degree or relevant demonstrable skills or experience.

Essential requirements:

• Relevant demonstrable skills or experience at a level equivalent to APM Level C and/or APMP.
• Experience of supporting complex multi and competing workstream projects.
• Experience of managing non-complex projects or sub-projects within large scale multi-disciplinary projects, and co-ordinating the associated commercial approach.
• Demonstrate drive, energy, resilience and self-management skills as well as integrity, openness and awareness of others in delivering non-complex projects.
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational forms.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary project environment and co-ordinating inputs from across a project team.
• Experience of supporting a multi-disciplinary and occasionally geographically dispersed project team.
• Experience of successful management of change programmes which reflect service needs, provide value for money and maintain quality.
• Ability to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex problems in a project environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and negotiate to form positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to employ a range of project management tools and techniques which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes for staff and customers.
• Experience of delivering a high level of customer satisfaction through leading non-complex projects.
• Knowledge, understanding and experience of performance management and programme/project management to drive service improvement.
• Understanding and practical experience of complex public sector projects and commercial approach from feasibility to service delivery.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics: 

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council. 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.