Senior Project Officer - Libraries Improvement Programme

North East Combined Authority; Morpeth; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

LGPS

Flexi scheme

Job summary

Northumberland County Council is seeking a Senior Project Officer to lead the Libraries Improvement Programme across Northumberland. You will plan, coordinate and deliver a high-profile initiative funded by the Arts Council England, driving a major transformation of library services and access for residents.

You will manage finances, governance, and partnerships, engaging with communities and staff to ensure successful delivery, adoption and measurable impact across multiple libraries.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading externally funded programmes and managing budgets.
• Ability to build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills to inform decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination and delivery of a high-profile programme.
• Manage project budgets and ensure governance compliance.
• Build and maintain partnerships with stakeholders and communities.
• Engage staff, customers and communities to support adoption of change.
• Monitor performance, evaluate outcomes and report to decision-makers.
• Produce reports and presentations to demonstrate impact.

Skills

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Project coordination

Data analysis

Change management

Job description

Senior Project Officer - Libraries Improvement Programme

Fixed term to March 2029

Northumberland County Council's (NCC) vision is ‘Land of Great Opportunities', for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work, and we have a unique opportunity to deliver one of the most ambitious library transformation projects in Northumberland.

Library and Information Services are at the heart of communities across Northumberland, providing welcoming spaces, trusted information, digital support, learning opportunities and access to a wide range of resources. We are committed to ensuring our services remain accessible, relevant and responsive to the needs of residents now and in the future.

We're looking for a Senior Project Officer - Libraries Improvement Programme to lead the delivery of our ground breaking "Increasing Access to Northumberland Libraries" programme, funded through the Arts Council England Library Improvement Fund.

This is not a business-as-usual project role. It's a chance to lead a pioneering programme that is reimagining how library services are delivered and accessed across Northumberland.

Through the installation of open access systems, self-service kiosks, and library smart lockers, we are delivering a major technological step change in library service provision, improving accessibility at several libraries across the county. By enabling extended hours and flexible self-service options, you will be making libraries more convenient, welcoming, and responsive to individual and community needs.

Digital access will also be enhanced, as this project will maximise the benefits of our public access IT provision and ongoing initiatives such as Wi-Fi printing. The installation of digital screens that will operate during both staffed and self-serve periods will improve resident access to a range of public information.

If you're energised by creating something new, influencing service transformation and delivering lasting impact for communities, we'd love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing:

As Senior Project Officer - Libraries Improvement Programme , you will lead the planning, coordination and delivery of a high-profile programme that will help shape the future of library provision across Northumberland. Working closely with senior leaders, partners, staff and communities, you'll drive innovation, oversee governance, manage significant project funding and deliver improvements that increase access to library services and digital opportunities for residents.

You will:

• Lead the delivery of a pioneering, externally funded programme and associated service improvement initiatives.
• Manage project budgets of approximately £500,000 and ensure compliance with funding and governance requirements.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Engage with staff, customers and communities across Northumberland to support successful delivery and adoption of change.
• Monitor performance, evaluate outcomes and use insights to inform future service development.si
• Produce reports, business cases and presentations to support decision-making and demonstrate impact.

What you’ll bring:

We're seeking a proactive and organised project professional who is excited by the opportunity to deliver innovative change and create lasting benefits for communities.

You’ll bring:

• An understanding of, or interest in, the opportunities and challenges facing library and community services.
• Experience of service improvement, transformation and change management.
• The ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders and work collaboratively across a range of organisations and communities.
• Strong analytical, reporting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions.
• Experience of managing budgets and resources.

Why choose us:

We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) - up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

For further information about working for NCC, please visit our website here.