Project Officer

Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Project Officer for our client, a local government organisation based in Southampton. The successful post holder will lead and develop the organisation's environmental enforcement function, including the delivery of a 12 month externally commissioned enforcement contract valued at approximately £250,000 per annum. The role will ensure effective enforcement activity in relation to environmental crime, including fly-tipping, waste presentation, and littering, contributing to improved environmental quality across the city. In addition, the postholder will provide programme and project management across a range of Clean & Green Service initiatives, ensuring delivery to time, budget, and agreed outcomes, in line with corporate priorities and statutory responsibilities. This role is a temporary contract with an initial contract length of 3 months with the possibility to extend. This role is hybrid working 3 days in the office, 2 days remote. Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to: • Oversee the operational delivery of the organisation's environmental enforcement service, ensuring effective and legally compliant enforcement activity. • Manage and support the environmental enforcement team, monitoring performance, productivity, and compliance with relevant legislation, policies, and procedures. • Lead enforcement activity relating to fly-tipping, waste presentation, duty of care offences, littering, and associated environmental crimes. • Commission, mobilise, and manage a 12-month external enforcement contract, ensuring delivery against agreed service standards, KPIs, and budget requirements. • Act as the lead client officer for the enforcement contract, maintaining effective relationships with contractors and addressing any performance issues, risks, or service improvements. • Monitor and control budgets associated with enforcement activities and projects, ensuring value for money and effective use of resources. • Manage and deliver a range of environmental and service improvement projects, ensuring delivery to agreed timescales, budgets, and outcomes. • Develop project plans, business cases, performance frameworks, and progress reports aligned to organisational priorities. • Monitor project and contract performance, identify risks and issues, and implement corrective actions where required. • Use performance data and intelligence to inform decision-making, target enforcement activity, and support continuous service improvement. • Work collaboratively with internal departments, contractors, partner organisations, and enforcement agencies to deliver integrated service outcomes. • Prepare and present reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders as required. • Ensure all enforcement, contract, and project activities comply with relevant legislation, governance requirements, and organisational policies. • Contribute to the development and review of enforcement procedures, policies, and best practice initiatives. • Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion while maintaining high standards of customer service and public engagement. • Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post. Personal Requirements: • Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience. • Relevant professional qualification or demonstrable experience in environmental enforcement, contract management, project management, or a related discipline. • Experience delivering environmental enforcement, regulatory, operational, or public service-focused programmes. • Proven experience managing external contracts, including supplier performance monitoring, KPI management, and financial oversight. • Demonstrable experience delivering projects within a complex organisational environment, ensuring successful outcomes within budget and timescales. • Experience managing teams, contractors, or stakeholders and driving performance improvement. • Knowledge of environmental protection, waste management, or regulatory legislation and its practical application. • Strong project planning, organisational, and risk management skills. • Excellent contract management and supplier relationship management abilities. Desirable: • Project Management qualification such as PRINCE2, APM, or equivalent. • Qualification in Environmental Health, Waste Management, Environmental Services, or a related discipline. • Experience working within a local authority, public sector, or regulatory environment. • Experience delivering service transformation, pilot programmes, or continuous improvement initiatives. • Knowledge of income generation through enforcement activity. Working Hours: 36hrs / Monday - Friday Pay: £28.23 per hr Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.