Project Support Officer - CMB2772e

Cumberland Council; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Cumberland Council is seeking a motivated Project Support Officer to join our Programme Management Office in Carlisle. You will support transformation activity across Children’s Services and broader corporate priorities, helping projects stay well organised and delivered to the required standards.

Working alongside Project and Programme Managers, you will develop your project governance, planning and reporting skills while meaningfully contributing to residents’ outcomes and service improvement

Qualifications

• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to coordinate activities and manage deadlines.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence in preparing reports, presentations and project documentation.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and work collaboratively in a team.

Responsibilities

• Support Project and Programme Managers with coordination and delivery of projects.
• Maintain project plans, action logs, risk and issue registers and other key docs.
• Assist governance activities: organise meetings, agendas and papers, track actions.
• Monitor milestones, outcomes and benefits for projects.
• Prepare reports, presentations and briefings for senior leaders and boards.
• Support stakeholder engagement, workshops and project events.
• Gather, analyse and present information to inform decisions.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Attention to detail

Written and verbal communication

Team collaboration

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Are you organised, proactive and interested in building your experience in project management and transformation?

Project Support Officer

Salary: £35,570 to £36,581 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Carlisle

Contract: Fixed-Term (24 months)

Cumberland Council is seeking a motivated Project Support Officer to join our Programme Management Office (PMO). The role will have a focus on supporting transformation activity across Children’s Services, whilst also providing opportunities to work across wider corporate transformation priorities.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of change within the Council, supporting projects that aim to improve outcomes for residents and communities, strengthen prevention and demand management, improve the way services are delivered and ensure they are sustainable for the future.

Working alongside Project and Programme Managers, you will provide high-quality project support to help ensure projects are well organised, effectively governed and successfully delivered.

About The Role

As a Project Support Officer, you will support projects throughout their lifecycle, helping the team to maintain effective project management arrangements and keep delivery on track.

You Will

• Support Project and Programme Managers with the coordination and delivery of projects and transformation activity.
• Maintain project plans, action logs, risk and issue registers and other key project documentation.
• Support project governance, including organising meetings, preparing agendas and papers, recording actions and monitoring their completion.
• Assist with monitoring project milestones, outcomes and benefits.
• Help prepare reports, presentations, briefings and other project information for senior leaders and governance boards.
• Support stakeholder engagement, workshops and project events.
• Gather, analyse and present information to support project delivery and decision-making.
• Build positive working relationships with colleagues and partners across the Council.
• Support the consistent application of the Council's PMO approach to project and programme management.

The role will provide exposure to a diverse range of projects and is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and experience within a professional programme and project management environment.

About You

You will be highly organised, able to manage competing priorities and comfortable working with colleagues from across an organisation.

You Will Have

• Strong organisational and administrative skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• The ability to coordinate activities and manage a variety of tasks and deadlines.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence in preparing clear reports, presentations and project documentation.
• Strong IT skills, particularly across Microsoft 365 applications.
• The ability to build effective working relationships and work collaboratively as part of a team.
• An interest in project management, transformation and improving public services.

Previous experience within a project or programme environment would be beneficial, but we are equally interested in individuals who can demonstrate transferable skills and experience from other roles, sectors or professional backgrounds.

You do not need to have worked in Children's Services or local government. We are keen to attract people with different experiences and expertise who can bring fresh ideas, new perspectives and a willingness to learn.

This role is available on a fixed-term basis.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.

We're also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments

We're dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That's why we're a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer - to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing [e-mail]. While adjustments aren't always guaranteed, we'll always listen and we'll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Application Information

• Closing date: 09/11/2026
• Interview date: Week Commencing 16/11/2026