Project Support Officer
Fixed Term, Full Time
28,402 up to 33,413 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Closing Date: 3rd July 2026
Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months
The opportunity Essex County Council has a significant track record of delivering complex and innovative transformational change. The Transformation approach is a key part of that and since 2021 our transformation programmes have delivered over 48M of savings from the most complex initiatives at the Council.
Our organisational and political leadership have prioritised their critical areas of focus, which will deliver meaningful and sustainable change over the next few years aiming to deliver a further 20m financial benefit during 27/28. Our nationally respected, award-winning Transformation Team are critical to driving change in ECC and Greater Essex over a number of areas. Whether your background or interest as a project professional is in public realm, technological change and innovation, citizen and resident experience, there are a myriad of exciting opportunities in Essex. We’re looking forward to helping you to start, continue or expand your project career here!
Essex County Council (ECC) is a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation that offers a compelling environment for both aspiring and experienced project management professionals. Whether you are starting your career or bringing experience, we invest in you. With career pathways, training opportunities, and a strong project profession community, you’ll be supported to thrive.
At ECC, project management is not just about delivery-it is about improving the lives of over 1.8 million residents. From transforming adult social care and education services to advancing digital innovation and improving resident experiences, the projects you work on have a tangible impact. Joining the Transformation Team at ECC offers exposure to a broad and diverse portfolio of programmes and projects. As a project professional you will have the chance to work across multiple service areas, including highways and waste, adult social care, children’s services, and digital services. This variety ensures that no two projects are the same and provides continuous opportunities to build experience, broaden expertise, and develop professionally.
Essex County Council has a strong focus on transformation and continuous improvement. The organisation embraces new ways of working and innovative approaches to service delivery. For project professionals, this means being at the forefront of change-leading complex transformation programmes and helping shape the future of public services. Project professionals at ECC are part of a supportive professional community, one that builds capability, with access to training, communities of practice, informal and formal learning opportunities and recognised methodologies. The scale and ambition of ECC’s transformation agenda mean there are always opportunities to stretch and grow.
The role
A Project Support Officer plays a key role in supporting the delivery of projects, programmes or portfolios by coordinating activities that enable successful outcomes and smooth day-to-day operation.
Working closely with Programme Managers and project teams, you will help ensure effective delivery through the coordination of business management actions, maintaining key documentation, and supporting governance and reporting processes. You will monitor progress across projects or workstreams, contribute to managing risks and issues, and, with direction, take responsibility for overseeing smaller projects where required.
You will be highly organised, able to prioritise competing demands, and bring strong communication and interpersonal skills, enabling you to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels across the organisation.
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Accountabilities
- Support the team by maintaining appropriate systems to ensure effective planning and scheduling of projects or programmes.
- Support the team by assisting them in maintaining project controls and producing project reports to ensure adequate and regular monitoring of project progress.
- Responsible for programme/project file management using robust version control and organising programme/project boards and meetings, together with providing support to ensure efficient operation of day to day activities.
- Supports the programme/project teams by being a main point of contact for responses to external requests for information and engaging with both internal and external contacts.
- Supports the team by monitoring programme/project spend and contribute to the compilation of budget updates whilst also ensuring updates of other tasks, such as, maintaining risk and issue logs and clearly documenting decisions.
- Supports the team by sharing any insights or escalating issues to ensure Programme and Projects Managers are kept up to date.
- Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Experience of engaging with others to build good working relationships and communicating effectively
- Experience of working with a broad range of individuals at different levels within an organisation and engaging with them.
- Experience and evidence of working in a project support role in a large, complex organisation
- Evidence of adopting a structured and planned approach
- Educated to GCSE or equivalent by experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in relevant professional area.
- Curious and inspired to work in an environment where you can learn and develop
- Experience of working within a political environment with knowledge of a public sector setting
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