Programme Support Officer

Surrey County Council; England; On-site; GBP 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Programme Support Officer to facilitate the successful delivery of high-priority transformation programs within Children's Social Care. The role involves supporting governance, maintaining management information, and coordinating activities. Ideal candidates will have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience in a project environment. Join us to make a lasting impact in the community.

Benefits

26 days' holiday (increasing with service)

Generous pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in a project environment is essential.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines effectively.
• Skilled in analyzing and presenting information.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate governance meetings and logistics.
• Maintain accurate management information for programs.
• Support project team members in organizing meetings.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

A level standard or professional business qualification to NVQ level 4

Job description

This role has a starting salary of 36,873 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week. This is a fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity until 31st March 2027.

We are hiring a Programme Support Officer to play a key role in supporting the smooth and efficient delivery of our high-priority transformation programmes within Children’s Social Care and the CFLL Directorate. These programmes are central to achieving strategic objectives and in particular this role will support the Efficiencies programme and the projects within, looking at how we can achieve savings across the directorate and supporting specific pieces of work.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (prorated for part time staff)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About The Role

You will provide essential support to coordinating programme and project level governance, maintaining accurate and timely management information, overseeing the forward plans, actions, board packs, chasing reports and highlight reporting as well as wider team support.

Key Outputs

• Ensuring the effective organisation, preparation and maintenance of management information for the overall programme, e.g. programme plan, resource management plan, engagement plans and action logs.
• Coordinating and maintaining programme-level governance meetings, managing the logistics, minute taking and managing actions logs.
• Managing the highlight reporting cycle for the Project, Programme Boards and Portfolio Office and coordinating the production of programme-level highlight reports, updates and management information as required.
• Supporting members of the programme team with all aspects of organisation and preparation of meetings and workshops, including arranging rooms and equipment, managing attendance lists, minute taking and providing other assistance as required.
• Liaising, communicating and building relationships across the organisation and with suppliers to respond to ad hoc queries and also supporting and representing the team.
• Continuously reviewing and recommending improvements to the programme, supporting processes and tools and their implementation to ensure best practices are shared across the team.

Whilst you will not directly line manage, you may indirectly manage others to support in the delivery of specific work activity.

The CFLL directorate’s key priorities are to improve children’s social care, transform services for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities, enable all age learning, deliver new models for emotional wellbeing and mental health services, and health/social care integration. The role sits within the Children’s Social Care Transformation who will develop and maintain strong and effective relationships across departments, programme teams, customers and key external partners.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Educated to A level standard or professional business qualification to NVQ level 4 or demonstrates experience within a project environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively enough to influence others.
• Strong organisational skills with an ability to manage multiple deadlines and ensure best practice is adhered to.
• Understanding of the responsibilities and related tasks throughout the lifecycle of a project.
• Attention to detail with an ability to manage, analyse and present information and data relating.

Application Questions

• Describe your experience in providing project support to a project previously. What tasks did you undertake and how did they impact the overall project?
• Can you provide an example of how have you effectively communicated with stakeholders to create clear, actionable information when supporting a project?
• Can you provide an example of a time you have shown attention to detail when supporting a project? Why is attention to detail important?
• Please tell us about a time you have had to manage multiple competing deadlines in order to ensure the success of a project. What did you find particularly challenging in your given example?

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 30th November 2025 with interviews planned to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Organisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information on our website.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.