Connect To Work Project Officer

Hoople Group; Hereford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

31 days annual leave (pro rata)

Flexible working options

Employee assistance programme

Employee discounts and benefits

Job summary

Herefordshire Council is seeking a dedicated Connect to Work Project Officer to support delivery of the Government's Connect to Work programme, focusing on helping people with barriers to employment access and sustain meaningful work.

You will monitor performance of providers, build relationships with partners and contribute to high-quality supported employment services across Herefordshire.

Qualifications

• Experience of contract, programme or project management within employment, skills, health, education or related services.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the performance of commissioned providers against agreed targets, outcomes and KPIs.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with delivery and referral partners, stakeholders and employers.
• Support the implementation, delivery and ongoing development of the Connect to Work programme.

Skills

Contract management

Performance monitoring

Quality assurance

Analytical skills

Management information

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Come and help make a lasting difference for Herefordshire residents through Connect to Work.

Job Title: Connect To Work Project Officer

Hours: 22

Salary: HC8 £37,563 - £42,123 (pro rata £22,335 - £25,046) per annum

Contract: Fixed Term until 31/03/2028

Closing date: 11/10/2026

The Role

Are you passionate about helping people overcome barriers to employment and supporting them into meaningful and sustainable work? Do you have experience in contract management, performance monitoring, quality assurance, or employment and skills programmes? Herefordshire Council is seeking a dedicated Connect to Work Project Officer to support the delivery of the Government's Connect to Work programme. This ambitious programme aims to help people with disabilities, long-term health conditions and other barriers to employment access and sustain fulfilling employment through the delivery of high-quality supported employment services. Working closely with the Senior Adviser Post 16 Learning and Skills, you will play a key role in the management and oversight of commissioned delivery partners, ensuring the programme achieves its objectives and delivers positive outcomes for Herefordshire residents. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a high-profile programme that will make a real difference to the lives of local people and contribute to the economic wellbeing of the county.

What will you be doing?

As Connect To Work Project Officer, You Will:

• Support the implementation, delivery and ongoing development of the Connect to Work programme.
• Monitor the performance of commissioned providers against agreed targets, outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with delivery and referral partners, stakeholders and employers.

About You

• Experience of contract, programme or project management within employment, skills, health, education or related services.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence working with management information, data and spreadsheets to produce meaningful insights.
• Knowledge of quality assurance, compliance requirements and audit processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships and provide constructive challenge where required.
• A good understanding of the barriers faced by people with disabilities, health conditions and disadvantaged groups in accessing employment.

Ideally, You Will Also Have Knowledge Of:

• Supported Employment approaches, including Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework principles.
• Employment and skills programmes funded through local or national government.
• Partnership working across health, employment, skills and voluntary sector services.

We Offer

A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
• Generous Annual Leave: 31 days (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum
• Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

Why Choose Us?

This is a unique opportunity to be involved in the delivery of one of the Government's flagship employment programmes and help shape services that support Herefordshire residents into work. You'll join a supportive and collaborative team committed to improving outcomes for local people and strengthening the county's economy.

Herefordshire Council Plan

The Council Plan Sets Out How We Will Make Our Contribution To Achieving a Better And More Successful Herefordshire, Please See The Link Below To Find Out More: Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-2028

Reasonable Adjustments

Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: [email protected]. If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, our Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.

Creating an inclusive workplace

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, collectives of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and offer support and community. They also play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs.

For more information on our Employee Network Groups please view our dedicated recruitment website: www.spiritofherefordshire.com.

Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.

We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.