Schools Infrastructure Project Officer

• Suffolk County Council – Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX - Hybrid
• £39,513 - £45,595 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
• Permanent

We are passionate about improving the future for our schools, our children and young people, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Schools Infrastructure Project Officer and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.

Your Role And Responsibilities

You will:

• be responsible for commissioning and having oversight of a number of educational projects, such as school expansions, new nurseries, special educational needs places and brand-new schools. There is no typical day in this job. You may be visiting a school construction site in the morning and attending a project update with the design team in the afternoon.
• work within a knowledgeable and supportive team where you will be expected to draw on your experience of education accommodation requirements to ensure Suffolk County Council delivers affordable, high quality learning environments. You will take pride in seeing a new school project open knowing you have played a crucial role in its inception.
• use your excellent communication skills to liaise with school leaders, local politicians, members of the community, design consultants and Project Managers to commission and deliver education building projects.
• use your eye for detail to oversee projects to ensure that they comply with DfE building bulletins and the EYFS statutory Framework.
• monitor cost status reports to ensure that projects are being delivered within an agreed budget.
• work as part of the Schools’ Infrastructure Team, supported by your colleagues and in turn share your knowledge and experience.

You will need

• experience of overseeing a range of complex projects from initial scope to completion.
• an enthusiasm and passion for supporting the education sector in Suffolk to have the accommodation needed to best support the school community. You will have a willingness to learn and be supported in that learning.
• ideally you will have experience of capital projects within the education or a similar sector, an understanding of working for a political organisation and experience of managing public sector projects. We are keen to hear from applicants who will have transferable skills that can be applied to this role.
• a knowledge of the build design guidance documents (e.g. BB103, BB104) and EYFS Statutory Framework is advantageous.
• to understand the lifecycle of a project and have the necessary skills to engage with educational leaders to ensure that they are able to input into projects.

We welcome applicants who can add fresh perspectives to the work we do.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Schools’ Infrastructure Team oversee school place planning, education maintenance and capital projects, managing a large capital and revenue budget. As a team we handle a wide variety of site-based enquiries on a daily basis ensuring no one day is the same. Monitoring birth rates and housing growth allows us to plan how many places may be needed in the future and commission projects accordingly and at the right time to meet demand. The team also plays a key role in securing developer contributions for education projects required due to the large housing growth across the county.

As a small team we meet regularly in person and on Teams to share our work and connect as a team. Team members are always offered a warm welcome and invited to join us in social activities, shared lunches and regular opportunities to seek support for your work.

Schools’ Infrastructure is a rewarding team that supports individual growth. This includes on the job learning but some members of our team have been supported to achieve qualifications with a team member successfully gaining their Masters.

This role will include some travel to schools and site visits across the county. As a team we have a shared calendar for sharing when we intend to work in the office.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Kelly Smith (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01502 521425 or emailing: kelly.smith@suffolk.gov.uk.

How To Apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

• Can you describe a time when you successfully managed a complex project from initial scope to completion? What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?
• Describe a situation where you had to work closely with a team to achieve a common goal. What was your role, and how did you ensure the team's success?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you had to make cost-saving decisions without compromising the quality of the project?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 11 May 2025.

Interview date: 21 May 2025.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day.

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).