Project Officer (2 YR FTC)

Why Southwark?

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

At Southwark Council, we’re on a mission to deliver inclusive growth and meaningful employment opportunities through innovation, partnership, and purpose. As our new Project Officer in the Local Economy team, you’ll help shape the future of our borough by ensuring our new supported employment programme hits the highest standards, and stays there.

This isn’t just another support role, this is about empowering lives, influencing a fairer economy, and being part of an ambitious team delivering industry-leading models like Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF).

Why this role is unmissable?

• You’ll champion high-fidelity, evidence-led employment support across Southwark.
• You’ll influence change through collaboration with clinical teams and local partners.
• You’ll set standards across this strategic project shaping our borough’s future economy.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead fidelity reviews across the Connect to Work employment programme, using IPS and SEQF, and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching and development to employment teams to strengthen practice.
• Support effective working relationships with clinical and delivery partners to ensure a joined-up approach.
• Deliver defined workstreams and project products on time, to scope and quality.
• Conduct research and analysis and produce clear, engaging reports and presentations.
• Represent the team in meetings and working groups, driving forward shared objectives.
• Contribute to wider economic growth programmes across the Planning & Growth division.
• Support wider local economy projects – including quality assurance, research, governance, commissioning, and performance planning.

Benefits and more information:

In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.

Key Benefits:

- Competitive Salary & Pension: Rewarding your hard work with a great package.

- Growth Opportunities: Access extensive training and development, both internally and externally to progress.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in service improvement, quality assurance, or programme evaluation.
• Analytical mindset – confident working with data, reports, and stakeholders.
• A solid grasp of one or more of the following: governance, compliance, business planning, commissioning, or performance monitoring.
• Good working knowledge of public sector issues, local government reform, and the dynamics of partnership work.
• Proven ability to deliver projects in complex organisations and manage competing priorities. Making sure milestones are hit and challenges tackled.
• Skilled in preparing professional reports and presentations for varied audiences.
• Passionate about making a real difference in people's lives through employment.
• First-class organisational skills with a flair for forward-planning and multitasking under pressure.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills using Microsoft365.
• Confidence handling sensitive information with the utmost discretion.

If you choose to apply, please complete your Supporting Statement focusing on the criteria contained within the Job Description’s Person Specification that is marked as ‘S’ for ‘Shortlisting’.

Contact Information:
Kimberley Weatherston,kim.weatherston@southwark.gov.uk

Additional Information

Recruitment Timetable

Closing Date: 25/10/2026

Shortlisting Date: 26/10/2026

Interview Date: Week Commencing 02/11/2026

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday (36hrs per week)

Location: 160 Tooley Street, SE1 2QH

Type of Contract: Fixed Term Contract (2 Years)

DBS: A Basic DBS is Required for this role

Please note that we are unable to accept applications from individuals who require visa sponsorship.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Southwark Council will only contact candidates through official Council recruitment channels. We will not ask you to provide passport details, proof of address, National Insurance number, bank details or payment at application stage. These checks are only requested at the onboarding process – once an offer of employment has been made. If you’re unsure whether a communication you’ve received is genuine, please contact the Resourcing team directly on recruitment@southwark.gov.uk before sharing any personal information.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans

Are currently in care, or have previously been in care

If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Be a part of something bigger and more rewarding! apply now to transform lives in your community. Click the 'apply now' button to start your journey with Southwark Council.

Attachments

• Click Here for Person Specification & JD

Equal Opportunities

Southwark Council recognises that the diversity of our population and our workforce is a strength. We value the differences between people, and the ways that those differences can contribute to a richer, creative and more productive work environment. Find out more by clicking here