PMO Analyst - Education Capital Programme
Directorate: Children and Education
Location: City Hall, Bristol (Hybrid - minimum 1 day per week on-site)
Contract Type: 6 months rolling contract
Working Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Rate: £390p/d Inside IR35
Reports to: Education Capital Programme Manager
About the Role:
We are looking for a highly capable and detail-oriented PMO Analyst to join Bristol City Council's Education Capital Programme team. This role is essential in ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of a high-profile programme of capital works, including new school buildings, extensions, and refurbishments-many of which support the creation of new SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) school places.
This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the operational and governance backbone of a critical capital delivery programme. You'll work closely with a team of project managers, internal stakeholders, and the council's central Portfolio Management Office (PMO) to improve visibility, alignment, and control across the programme lifecycle. As the programme undergoes a re-baselining process, your role will be pivotal in maintaining consistency, capturing key information, and ensuring project data and governance are up-to-date and reliable.
Main Responsibilities:
Governance & Reporting:
·Prepare high-quality monthly highlight reports, consolidated dashboards, and programme summaries for review by senior stakeholders.
·Coordinate and administer programme boards including preparation of board packs, scheduling meetings, logging minutes, tracking actions, and ensuring timely circulation of relevant papers.
·Maintain a clear audit trail for all programme-related decisions and actions.
Project Support & Tooling:
·Provide direct support to project managers in setting up and maintaining project records, milestones, and reporting dashboards using PM3 - the Council's chosen project management tool.
·Ensure that all project documentation is correctly structured, consistently stored, and aligned to best practice using SharePoint and other internal systems.
·Act as a point of contact for project teams needing guidance on internal processes, approvals, or documentation standards.
Programme Coordination:
·Support the Programme Manager in maintaining and updating core programme controls including:
oIntegrated programme plan
oRAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies)
oProgramme budget and financial tracking
oStakeholder and communications logs
·Monitor and update the communications tracker and ensure that communications across the programme are timely, clear, and accurately documented.
·Support the scheduling and running of wider team meetings, ensuring that key milestones, risks, and decisions are regularly reviewed and addressed.
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Process Improvement & Compliance:
·Help build and document standard process notes and guidance for managing the programme, with an eye towards supporting any future internal handovers.
·Ensure consistent use of templates, tools, and practices across the programme.
·Contribute to process reviews and implement updates in line with the Council's Corporate Programme Office standards.
·Identify gaps in programme documentation or governance and take proactive steps to resolve them.
Financial Administration:
·Run and collate monthly financial reports, support PMs in updating financial forecasts, and help track spend against programme budgets.
·Assist with the creation and management of financial codes, tracking expenditure and raising alerts where required.
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General and Ad-Hoc Support:
·Provide general administrative and coordination support across the programme as required.
·Respond to information requests and queries from internal and external stakeholders.
·Support the programme team in identifying and resolving any blockers to delivery.
Person Specification:
Essential Knowledge, Skills & Experience
·Proven experience in a PMO Analyst, Programme Support Officer, or equivalent role within a complex programme or portfolio environment.
·Experience supporting governance structures, including board preparation, minuting, and action tracking.
·Demonstrable understanding of project and programme lifecycle methodologies, tools, and reporting standards.
·Ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary teams, including coordination with project managers, external suppliers, and internal departments.
·Experience working within a public sector or highly regulated environment, with strong attention to audit and compliance.
·Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy under pressure.
·Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence and support others in a professional and constructive way.
·Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and document management systems such as SharePoint.
·Ability to work independently and use initiative to identify and solve problems effectively.
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Desirable Experience:
·Experience working in an education or capital delivery environment, particularly involving SEND provisions or school infrastructure projects.
·Familiarity with PM3 or other enterprise project management tools (e.g. MS Project, Primavera, etc.).
·Understanding of capital programme finance processes in a local authority setting.
Working Conditions:
·This is a 6-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension.
·The role requires full-time working hours (37 hours/week).
·The position follows a hybrid working model - with a requirement to be on-site at City Hall, Bristol at least one day per week. Additional on-site attendance may occasionally be required for key meetings or project milestones.
Why Bristol City Council?
By joining us, you'll be part of a forward-thinking, diverse, and inclusive council that's committed to improving outcomes for all residents. The Education Capital Programme offers a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative journey that will positively impact thousands of children and young people across Bristol.
You'll work alongside dedicated and passionate professionals who are focused on delivering meaningful, long-term change. Your contribution will directly support the Council's ability to deliver high-quality educational infrastructure that meets both current and future needs