Employer: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Location: Kingston upon Thames, London
Working pattern: Hybrid
Contract: Full time
Salary: £33,987–£38,739 per year
Sector: Local Government / Project & Programme Management
About the Role
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is recruiting a Programme Support Officer to join its Corporate Transformation & PMO team.
The team supports organisational change and transformation across the Council, working with Programme Managers, Senior Responsible Officers (SROs), workstream leads and other stakeholders.
The successful candidate will provide programme and project support, help coordinate reporting and assurance activities, maintain programme documentation and contribute to effective governance and delivery.
This is a varied role suited to someone who is highly organised, proactive and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide programme and project support to Transformation Programme Managers, SROs and workstream leads.
- Coordinate workstream activities and maintain programme plans.
- Track milestones and support delivery activities.
- Maintain programme documentation, logs and registers covering risks, issues, decisions and dependencies.
- Prepare corporate reports and dashboards.
- Coordinate programme board meeting packs and track actions and follow-up activities.
- Organise workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions.
- Provide administrative support to the PMO Partner and Head of Service, including team diary management.
- Support the development and maintenance of the Council’s project management framework.
- Help create and update processes, templates, guidance and training materials.
- Conduct desktop research to support project and programme managers.
- Develop communications materials, presentations and internal announcements.
- Support the Project and Programme Management Community of Practice.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders across the Council to support transformation and continuous improvement.
About You
The Council is looking for someone who can manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and organisation.
You should have:
- Strong organisational and time-management skills.
- Practical understanding and experience of project management and delivery.
- An understanding of local authorities and the challenges of working within a local government environment.
- Good analytical skills and the ability to interpret information and support reporting.
- Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
- A proactive and solution-focused approach.
- The ability to work flexibly when priorities change.
- A positive and forward-thinking approach to change and innovation.
- The ability to manage multiple pieces of work and deadlines simultaneously.
Career Development and Benefits
The Council offers a supportive environment focused on learning, development and career progression.
Benefits include:
- 25–32 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, depending on service and grade.
- Hybrid and flexible/agile working arrangements, subject to the role.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependants’ leave.
- Three volunteering days per year in Kingston.
- Learning and development portal with a range of courses.
- Local shopping, restaurant, gym and leisure discounts.
- Interest-free season ticket loans.
- Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Bicycle loans and cycle-to-work scheme.
- Electric vehicle leasing scheme.
- Confidential health, wellbeing and counselling support.
Visa Sponsorship and Right to Work
The vacancy states that the UK points-based immigration system applies to EU and non-EU workers.
Sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role. The Council states that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations, with sponsorship requests considered on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who require Skilled Worker sponsorship should therefore confirm their eligibility and the Council’s current sponsorship position before applying.
Application and Selection Process
Applications should be submitted online, explaining the skills, abilities and experience that make you suitable for the role.
Applicants should refer closely to the requirements in the job profile and ensure their CV information has been uploaded correctly.
The Council states that it welcomes appropriate use of AI in the workplace but may reject applications where AI-generated content has been used in isolation without personalised responses. Applicants should ensure their supporting statement genuinely reflects their own skills, experience and motivation.
The Council also states that applications are anonymised to help reduce conscious and unconscious bias during the recruitment process.
Closing Date
The closing date is described as a guide. The Council may close the vacancy earlier if sufficient applications are received, so early application is advised.
Additional Information
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is a Disability Confident employer and states that disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
The Council also welcomes applications from under-represented groups and provides inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and staff networks.
Source: LG Jobs / Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames