Location: Leeds City Council, Merrion House, Leeds. Hybrid working available.
Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.
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.
The Assets and Access Team is recruiting a Project Support Officer.
The Assets and Access Team plays a central role ensuring all children can access education and learning within inclusive and fit for purpose settings across Leeds; the service leads on a wide portfolio:
* A clear vision of Children & Families asset requirements – through an inclusive asset management plan for the directorate.
* School Capital Maintenance & Building Compliance – ensuring schools across the city are safe, warm and watertight.
* Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision Place Planning – providing inclusive and accessible learning places across the city.
* Access to learning settings across the city – through our Children’s Education Transport Policy.
About the role
The Project Support Officer is an integral role to the Assets and Access Team. You will support the development, implementation and review of the Children & Families Asset Management Plan, working across the Directorate and with City Development. You will support with the creation of sufficient school places for children with Special Education Needs and disabilities, including Alternative Provision learning places, working closely with Learning Inclusion and City Development to programme manage the delivery of inclusive learning environments across the City. You will also be supporting with the delivery of statutory functions that contribute to the achievement of the Council’s vision and strategic outcomes.
About you
As a successful applicant to the Project Support Officer role in the Assets and Access Team you will be able to:
* Communicate effectively, accurately, and concisely in written, verbal and visual formats to a range of stakeholders.
* Demonstrate understanding of council’s statutory duties in relation to good estate management of school buildings and those relating to SEND and Alternative Place Planning.
* Identify and agree actions which are likely to lead to improvement and to ensure targets are met.
* Collect and analyze a broad range of evidence to measure project progress and quality.
As our next Project Support Officer, you will also support the wider Assets and Access team in identifying and implementing process improvements, and budget monitoring and reporting across a variety of projects. You’ll have an understanding of working in a democratically led organisation and will be socially aware, with values centred around equality, diversity and inclusivity.
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.
You’ll be joining an excellent team, with a supported induction and an offer of continuous professional development, with the opportunity to be involved in a variety of work projects. Your office base will be Merrion House in the city centre; the team currently enjoys spending a day or two each week in the office and one fixed day every month with wider service colleagues. You’ll enjoy similar autonomy and flexibility.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
For more information about the Assets and Access Team, please visit our page on the Leeds for Learning website.
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 and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. 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.
Job Purpose: To support the development, implementation and review of the Children & Families Asset Management Plan, working across the Directorate and with City Development. To support with the creation of sufficient school places for children with Special Education Needs and disabilities, including Alternative Provision learning places, working closely with Learning Inclusion and City Development to programme manage the delivery of inclusive learning environments across the City. Supporting with the delivery of statutory functions that contribute to the achievement of the Council’s vision and strategic outcomes.
Responsibilities
* Working with colleagues across Children & Families and Strategic Asset Management, support the completion and maintenance of an Asset Management Plan of existing assets, lease/user agreement arrangements in place which provide SEND and Alternative Provision across the city, including Resource & Partnership provision.
* Support the Planning and Review Manager and Lead Officer in liaising with the Sufficiency & Participation Team to establish the need for future learning expansions/changes to provision and assets.
* Collation and analysis of data and information to support infrastructure changes required, including supporting any future SEN or Alternative Provision Free School Presumptions applications and related consultations/reports.
* Support the Lead Officer and Planning and Review Manager in devising a Children & Families Asset Management Plan, detailing short, medium and long term asset requirements for staff and the delivery of front line services.
* Keep records up to date pertaining to the use and condition of Children & Families assets by working with Strategic Asset Management and Civic Enterprise Leeds.
* Support the Planning and Review Manager by collating information and undertaking options appraisals, feeding into Children & Families Asset Management Board, and the Estate Management Group (City Development) on the potential future use of assets.
* Working with the Planning and Review Manager, support colleagues in City Development and across the directorate to capture details of user agreements/leases in operation within Children & Families Assets (e.g., Schools, Children’s Centres, youth centres) or where Children & Families services use other assets (e.g., Community Centres, Libraries, NHS/Hospitals).
* Support the Project Initiation Form processes with schools, providing them with relevant guidance and support to achieve sign off for any asset related projects they are wishing to undertake on school sites.
* Working with City Development, complete relevant business cases and paperwork to achieve an accurate Children and Families VOID asset register.
* Working with the Assets and Access CAD Manager, devise a training programme for Concerto (C&F Asset Management Software) and ensure appropriate asset information is transferred to the system in a timely manner.
* Assist schools in the development of Premises Development Plans, linking with the Sufficiency and Participation Team to maximise existing relationships and supporting schools with quality advice on estate, project and procurement matters.
* Encourage schools to best utilise their Devolved Formula Capital allocations from the DfE to meet their statutory maintenance duties and to support the priorities identified in their plans.
* Promote to schools the DfE’s Good Estate Management Guide, working with team colleagues to ensure schools fulfil and return their Statutory Duty paperwork to the Assets and Access Team on an annual basis.
* Support schools in resolving any adhoc/emergency building related issues, liaising with the internal service provider (Civic Enterprise Leeds – Leeds Building Services).
* Gather new information on Condition from the school to input to the evidence base used to inform the Assets and Access annual Planned Maintenance Programme.
* Line Manage the Admin Assistant(s) for whom the post holder is responsible.
Qualifications at Level 3 and above are desirable for the role, but experience of working within the wider children’s workforce, preferably with schools, colleges and/or learning providers is essential.
Personal Specification
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following: Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.
Essential Requirements: It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills Required
* Able to work flexibly across different work locations and service areas as appropriate.
* Project Management and co-ordination skills.
* Excellent all-round IT skills.
* Ability to communicate effectively, accurately, and concisely in written, verbal and visual formats to a range of stakeholders.
* Ability to exercise discretion and handle confidential information.
* Good organisational skills, capability of achieving agreed deadlines and targets.
* Ability to work effectively both individually and as part of a team.
* Ability to listen actively, ask questions, clarify points and check understanding.
* Ability to communicate technical issues with clarity and confidence to a wide audience.
* Ability to coach and transfer skills to others.
* Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
* Ability to deal positively and objectively with difficult situations.
* Ability to take initiative and assist and co-operate with others.
* Ability to promote a professional image of self, the directorate and the Council.
Knowledge Required
* Understanding of the priorities of the Assets and Access Team, Children & Families Services and the broader council.
* Significant knowledge and experience of working with MS Word and Excel including the use of formulas and functions.
* Excellent working knowledge of how to access and maintain records using a range of electronic systems and databases.
* Significant knowledge of confidentiality and legislation processes and procedures in relations to the handling of sensitive information.
* Understanding of the council’s statutory duties relating to SEND and Alternative Place Planning.
* Understanding of the council’s statutory duties relating to good estate management of schools.
* Understanding of the Council’s Governance procedures, reporting and delegation schemes.
Experience Required
* Line management.
* Analysing and interpreting data to make recommendations about progress against targets and about performance relative to benchmarks.
* Collection and analysis of a broad range of evidence to measure project progress and quality.
* Respond flexibly to new ideas and promote change as a natural process within business.
* Deliver sensitive messages in a constructive way. Present feedback with sensitivity, honesty and clarity.
* Deal effectively with conflict.
* Manage time and resources to meet objectives.
* Dividing and allocating own time to ensure delivery on time and to budget.
* Identifying and agreeing actions which are likely to lead to improvement and to ensure targets are met.
* Scrutinising and evaluating plans and relevant policies, making informed recommendations.
* Making best use of technology and encouraging others to develop technical solutions in response to change.
* Significant prior experience of engaging with and working within the wider children’s workforce, specifically with schools, colleges and/or learning providers.
* Significant prior experience of report and correspondence writing experience to a variety of audiences including the elected members, senior leaders and the general public.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Commitment to own personal development and learning.
* Awareness of and an ability to respect the sensitive and confidential nature of the work.
* 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 to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
* Receptive to new ideas, responsive to change and self-motivated.
Desirable Requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Skills Required
* Ability to communicate technical issues with clarity and confidence to a wide audience.
Knowledge Required
* Understanding of Leeds Schools and Academies and differences in responsible body duties.
* Of statutory consultation process for the expansion of schools and establishment of resource and/or partnership provision.
* Of DfE statutory guidance for Schools and Academies.
Experience Required
* Experience of persuading and influencing a wide range of individuals and organisations.
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