Project Support Officer – ESF

Opportunity Sheffield, the Council’s employment and skills service, is looking to recruit a temporary Project Support Officer who can provide efficient and effective project support for the ESF Pathways accountable body team, helping to assure quality and ensure compliance with funding rules.

Opportunity Sheffield helps Sheffield people to get jobs and Sheffield employers to find, recruit and train the right staff. The service receives funding to run its employment programmes from local, government and European sources and works with partners across the city and beyond to provide its services. The accountable body team acts as the key liaison with the funding agencies and supports colleagues and partners to meet funders’ requirements and follow the rules of the different programmes.

Working with colleagues from across the service, you will support them to understand the requirements and follow the rules as they apply to European Social Fund funded projects, making sure evidence checks are completed and excellent records are maintained. You will help with the preparation of management reports and claims to the Department for Work and Pensions and help put together responses to questions and queries.

You will need to be a good communicator with a methodical approach and meticulous attention to detail; confident enough to query or challenge when necessary and supportive enough to help colleagues or partners meet the high standards set by the team.

Experience of working in a similar role supporting contract management and particularly quality and compliance would be an advantage, as would experience of employment support programmes, or the European Social Fund, but the key will be the personal qualities you bring to the role.

This is a full-time role for 37 hours per week, working under a hybrid system of 2 days per week in the office and 3 days per week from home. The post offers a generous holiday entitlement, and we are open to discussion about a range of flexible working options that may benefit you and the Council.

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.