Project and Change Officer

Somerset Council; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave + bank holidays

LGPS pension scheme

Flexible and hybrid working patterns

Health and wellbeing support

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking a proactive project administrator to help shape locality-based Early Years Communities within the Best Start in Life programme. You will coordinate partners across settings, schools, health, SEND and community organisations to drive practical action and improvements for young children and families.

You will plan workshops, manage plans and governance, and monitor outcomes while maintaining clear documentation and reporting for diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Sound knowledge and practical understanding of project and change management methods, tools and controls.
• Experience coordinating projects to agreed time, quality and resource requirements.
• Experience producing clear project documentation and concise reports.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate locality-based Early Years Communities and delivery plans.
• Maintain high-quality project documentation and milestone reports.
• Monitor progress, identify barriers and support corrective action.
• Bring together partners to strengthen local networks and joined-up working.
• Plan and facilitate workshops, consultations and professional learning activities.
• Develop clear communications for different audiences and respond to feedback.
• Use data and feedback to identify gaps and opportunities for locality improvement.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Communication skills

Organization & planning

Data analysis

Education

Higher-level qualification or substantial experience

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and deliver locality-based Early Years Communities as part of Somerset's Best Start in Life programme. You will bring together early years settings, schools, health services, SEND partners, family support services and community organisations to strengthen partnership working, share effective practice and improve outcomes for young children and families across Somerset. Using project and change management principles, you will coordinate plans, governance, engagement and improvement activity, helping partners turn shared priorities into practical action. Your work will support stronger early years transitions, greater consistency for providers and progress towards Good Level of Development outcomes, particularly for children experiencing disadvantage or additional barriers. We would love to hear from you.

How You'll Make a Difference

• Support the development and delivery of locality-based Early Years Communities and Communities of Practice across Somerset.
• Coordinate project, change, implementation, stakeholder and communications plans, ensuring activity remains focused and achievable.
• Maintain high-quality project documentation, including plans, milestones, highlight reports, risk and issue logs, action logs and benefits measures.
• Monitor progress against agreed outcomes, identify barriers and dependencies, and support corrective action or escalation where needed.
• Bring together early years settings, schools, health, SEND, family support, community organisations and other partners to strengthen local networks and joined-up working.
• Plan and facilitate workshops, consultations, awareness events and professional learning activity, securing clear actions and follow-through.
• Use data, feedback and professional insight to identify patterns, gaps and opportunities for focused locality improvement activity.
• Support the development, testing and spread of effective practice, including approaches that improve early years transitions and consistency of support for providers.
• Develop clear project and change communications for different audiences, using appropriate channels and responding to stakeholder feedback.
• Contribute to progress towards Good Level of Development outcomes, with a focus on children experiencing disadvantage or additional barriers. Sound knowledge and practical understanding of project and change management methods, tools and controls, including planning, governance, risk, issue, dependency, stakeholder and benefits management.
• An understanding of the early years and the factors that influence child development, school readiness, effective transition and Good Level of Development outcomes.
• Experience of managing or coordinating projects or defined work assignments to agreed time, quality and resource requirements.
• Experience of producing and maintaining clear project documentation and providing concise reports, briefings, recommendations and communications.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills, with the ability to manage concurrent activities, deadlines, dependencies and competing priorities.
• Strong facilitation, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage varied professional audiences, influence across organisational boundaries and create shared ownership.
• The ability to translate strategic outcomes into practical delivery plans, measurable outputs, clear responsibilities and proportionate reporting.
• Confidence in analysing data and feedback, solving problems, constructively challenging barriers and escalating issues appropriately.
• A relevant higher-level qualification, or equivalent substantial experience, in project management, business administration, education, early years, public services or a related discipline.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and to improving outcomes for children and families. At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.
• At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.
• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most enhanced and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.