Senior Project Officer

Do you have experience managing projects and working with volunteers? Join our Prison & Justice Team at Samaritans as a Senior Project Officer – Prison Support and help us deliver high-quality Listener schemes across prisons. This role is for 6 months, covering maternity leave, with a possible extension. 

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• 6 month fixed term contract 

• £37,000-£40,000 FTE per annum plus benefits 

• Part time (29 hours per week/0.83 FTE)

• Work pattern – we are flexible on this. Hours and days per week, to be discussed at interview 

• We are passionate about flexible working, please talk to us about your preferences

• Hybrid working: Linked to Ewell, Surrey office.  A blend of working from home, the Ewell office and other locations for team meetings.  

• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. Mandated in-person meetings will be in place from Jan ’25. This allows for training, in person collaboration, team building, line management and other relationship building opportunities. This is around 2 days per month. 

Due to the urgency of this role, we are unable to consider applications from candidates on more than a 1 month notice period. 

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As a Senior Project Officer, you’ll play a pivotal role in our efforts to reduce suicide in prisons. You’ll be at the heart of our work, leading specific projects that enhance our Listener scheme and other prison-based programmes. You will collaborate closely with senior volunteers and stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery, provide vital support and advice, and engage in stakeholder management.

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Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and deliver key projects to improve the Listener Scheme and other prison programs.

• Work closely with senior volunteers to ensure project buy-in and delivery.

• Provide first-line advice and support to Regional Prison Support Officers and volunteers.

• Liaise with external stakeholders and prison services.

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About You:

We’re looking for someone with excellent organisational and communication skills, who is proactive and passionate about making a positive impact. The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience managing projects and working with volunteers.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Great organisational and time management skills.

• The ability to manage and deliver multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

• Confidence in presenting to various audiences and facilitating meetings.

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What’s in it for you – our benefits:

So, you want to work for us? Good choice. We like it here too. We offer competitive salaries, flexible and hybrid working to suit your needs, family-friendly policies, 28 days annual leave inclusive of wellbeing days and a matched pension contribution up to 5%. You’ll have a structured induction and ongoing projects, secondments & learning opportunities. We also have colleague-led affinity groups made up of people with shared identities.

Your health and wellbeing is our priority. We have a staff community of Mental Health First Aiders, a Health Cash Plan and an Employee Assistance Programme. You’ll have free subscriptions to Headspace (your personal guide to mindfulness, sleep, focus, movement, and more) & Perkbox (an employee benefits platform with online exercise classes). That’s not all. We listen to your ideas and have staff forum and social committee networks.

Hybrid and flexible working: We are a flexible organisation, and we embrace hybrid working – a mix of connecting in person and remotely. We’re aware that the world is changing, and we all want and need different things from our work and home lives. So, if you need to walk the dog, go to the gym, or have commitments outside of work, we’re open to talking through flexible working options that work for you and us.

Being Inclusive: We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from Disabled, BAME and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.

Application: If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You'll be asked to upload your CV and a 1 page cover letter, which includes your interest in the role and your transferable skills and experience. The role will close to applications at 9 am on Monday 30 September, with video interviews likely to take place w/c 7 October.