Schools Project Officer (Estates)

Schools Project Officer (Estates)
Canterbury, Kent
£29,767 pa plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week
3 year fixed-term contract with possibility of extension

The Schools Project Officer is a crucial business administrative role at the Diocese, as you will act as the first point of contact for projects concerning the development and maintenance of school sites and buildings, from senior leaders, governors, parish officers or our professional advisers.

Reporting to the Schools Officer and working within the Children, Young People and Education team, you will support the oversight of related grant funding and manage other bespoke projects such as promoting decarbonisation initiatives for church schools and organising land registrations. You will also advise school leaders and governors in relation to school organisation and the use or development of land and buildings.

As Schools Project Officer, you will act as facilitator between various internal and external teams, providing support through monitoring projects relating to school estates (building developments, maintenance and repairs), whilst making proactive enquiries and interventions to sustain progress against recorded timescales.

You will also take responsibility for managing grants held by the Diocese and liaising with schools regarding suitable projects and available funding, helping schools to prioritise projects for effective estate management.

A crucial part of our strategy is to assess the environmental impact of the Diocese’s church schools, planning for and supporting schools to advance decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects. As Schools Project Officer you will regularly update and signpost church schools to banks of practical materials and resources for decarbonisation campaigns, toolkits and projects, building case studies of best practice.

With an understanding of or experience in business administration, estate management or project support, you should be capable of supporting projects and have the ability to apply understanding to tasks. Capable of summarising complex information clearly, you should be able to explain the progress of projects to those with no specialist understanding.

Forward thinking, adaptable and responsive to a varied work programme, you should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and have evidence of recent study, training or development and a willingness to learn new knowledge and technical skills.

It is essential for you to be supportive of the vision of the CYPE team and to be sympathetic to the contribution of Church of England schools to Christian mission.

The ability to travel and a willingness to attend occasional evening and weekend meetings and events is essential.

An understanding and awareness of Church of England structures and knowledge of the current educational landscape within the context of church schools, along with experience of budget management or creating financial reports would be desirable.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Check.

Canterbury Diocese is the oldest diocese in England, stretching from Maidstone to Thanet, the Isle of Sheppey to the Romney Marsh. We have 350 miles of coastline with historic ports and seaside resorts, alongside rural communities, market towns and commuter-belt urban developments. Affluent areas often sit alongside pockets of major deprivation, offering an exciting and challenging mission context. 

At the heart of all we do is a vision of transformation for ourselves and our communities: no one can encounter God and remain unchanged. In the Diocese of Canterbury, we want to increasingly become a Christian community transformed through encounter with Christ, growing and overflowing to transform and bless the families, homes and communities we serve: Changed Lives, Changing Lives.

Closing date: 30 September 2024.