Job Title: Senior Project Officer
Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Merrion House, Leeds
Can you help us meet the challenge of increasing the number of affordable homes in Leeds? The Council Housing Growth team was established to deliver additional council housing for those in greatest need across the city. In the last five years we have completed almost 1,200 homes and we are looking to continue this growth over the next five years with the next phase of our delivery programme. The Council recently confirmed its commitment to increasing affordable housing delivery over the next ten years by approving its updated Leeds Affordable Housing Strategy, which includes continued use of the council’s own resources and capitalising on the opportunities offered by central government’s £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
About You
- Experience supporting complex built environment projects through all design and lifecycle stages, including RIBA and Gateway processes, managing multiple workstreams and leading multi‑disciplinary teams.
- Contributing to effective project decision‑making, reporting, governance and delivery, including drafting and presenting decision reports for senior officer and board approval.
- Line‑management duties and staff development, with demonstrated drive, resilience and leadership skills.
- Supporting complex commercial negotiations to secure value for money, undertaking risk management and problem‑solving, with experience of contract management to ensure quality, cost and timescales are met.
- Presenting complex information clearly and concisely, and maintaining relationships with partners to ensure council ambitions and plans are delivered.
- Co‑ordinating activity within a multi‑disciplinary built environment project context, interfacing with legal, finance and technical service areas, and providing support to senior officers and team members.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to inform, influence and negotiate to form positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
About The Role
You will support a range of complex and diverse projects, ensuring that financially viable, high‑quality schemes are delivered in a timely fashion within a commercial environment. You will support the leadership of a team of project management staff and coordinate relationships with internal commissioning partners in Housing Leeds and other senior stakeholders, as well as technical advisory and contract management consultants. Your responsibilities include:
- Leading projects and supporting professional and management functions.
- On‑site working and leading on projects commensurate with the grade.
- Supporting procurement, planning and highways statutory and regulatory functions.
- Providing information to ward members and other services on related project and commercial activity.
Key Service Objectives
- Complete the remainder of Phase 1, including the 63‑unit extra‑care housing scheme in Armley and the 55‑house/27‑apartment scheme in Pudsey.
- Acquire 100 ex‑right‑to‑buy properties per year for the next five years.
- Deliver 36 homes as part of Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 with external grant funding over the next three years.
- Progress Phase 2 pipeline of under 600 new build homes.
- Review delivery models and financial headroom, securing Homes England grant funding to maximise the number of homes we can deliver over the next ten years.
Qualifications
- Considerable relevant demonstrable skills or experience equivalent to APM Level C and/or APM PMQ.
- Degree or relevant demonstrable experience in the built environment.
Essential Requirements
- Support delivery of complex projects through all design and lifecycle stages, coordinating multi‑disciplinary teams.
- Contribute to effective project decision‑making, reporting, governance and delivery, including drafting and presenting decision reports for senior officer and board approval.
- Line‑management duties and staff development, with demonstrated drive, resilience and leadership skills.
- Implement project management methodology and tools, including risk logs, communication plans and procurement strategy reports.
- Support complex commercial negotiations and identify and resolve risks and issues creatively and innovatively.
- Apply contract management skills, including monitoring and evaluating performance to improve outcomes.
- Identify and develop funding opportunities, complete applications and support bids to external bodies, and identify cost‑saving opportunities.
- Manage risk to minimise the council’s liabilities.
- Present complex information clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
- Maintain relationships with strategic partners to influence policy and project ambitions.
- Co‑ordinate multi‑disciplinary built environment projects and provide support across service areas.
- Work with external stakeholders and partners to deliver quality outcomes.
- Communicate with the ability to inform, influence and negotiate for positive relationships.
Behavioural and Other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values, behaviours and code of conduct.
- Commit to continuous improvement and support the council’s ambitions for health, wellbeing, inclusive growth and zero carbon.
- Adhere to the council’s equality and diversity policies.
- Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
- Participate in training, development and appraisal activities.
- Adapt to change flexibly and effectively.
- Report incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation or abuse to the appropriate person.
- Work within the council’s flexibility protocol.
What We Offer You
- Competitive salary of up to £49,282.
- Annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays (29 days rising to 34 days after five years’ service).
- 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 support wellbeing and financial wellbeing.
EEO Statement
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from women, carers, veterans, LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care‑experienced people.
Right to Work
This role is based in the UK. Candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, 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, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.
Contact
Liz Milne, Project Manager, Tel: 0113 3785970, Email: liz.milne@leeds.gov.uk
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