Schools Infrastructure Project Officer (Internal)

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House Ipswich IP1 2BX - Hybrid
• Salary:40777 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours:Up to 37 hours per week flexible working options available
• Contract: Fixed term or Secondment. Fixed term/Secondment is externally funded by the district and borough councils expected to end two years after start date subject to funding continuation

This post is open to current Suffolk County Council staff only.

At Suffolk County Council every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Schools Infrastructure Project Officer in the Schools Infrastructure Team youll see the direct impact of your work on the people and places that make Suffolk special. Your contributions will help build a brighter future for all. If youre passionate about making a real tangible difference its time to reimagine your career with us. Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

• Youll keep Local Plan work right at the heart of what you do staying closely involved and making sure Local Planning Authority (LPA) queries are picked up and responded to quickly clearly and consistently
• Youll act as a friendly dependable first point of contact for LPAs helping with questions offering guidance and keeping communication open throughout the plan-making process
• When new development sites come forward youll take the time to look at them properly using data and insight to give clear practical advice on what education infrastructure will be needed
• Youll bring together strong evidence like pupil forecasts pupil yield data and capacity modelling to support well-informed and confident planning decisions
• Youll keep a close eye on key milestones and any emerging issues so you always have a clear picture of progress and where support might be needed
• Youll be a consistent and visible presence in plan-making meetings workshops and stakeholder sessions helping to build strong relationships and provide continuity for each LPA.

What you will need

• Ideally you will have some experience of supporting strategic school place planning tasks in a previous role but we are keen to hear from applicants who will have transferrable skills that can be applied to this role
• We hope youll bring an enthusiasm and passion for supporting the education sector in Suffolk to have the accommodation needed to best support the school community
• You will have a willingness to learn and be supported in that learning
• We welcome applicants who can add fresh perspectives to the work we do.

You can view a full list of requirements in theJob and Person Profile (JPP) which you can find in the How to apply section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role apply. Even if you dont meet all requirements still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

• The Schools Infrastructure Team (SIT) oversees school place planning education maintenance and capital projects and manages a large capital and revenue budget. As a team we handle a wide variety of site-based enquiries daily ensuring no one day is the same. Monitoring birth rates and housing growth allows us to plan how many places may be needed in the future and commission projects accordingly and at the right time to meet demand. The team also plays a key role in securing developer contributions for education projects required due to the large housing growth across the county
• As a small team we meet regularly in person and on Teams to share our work and connect as a team. Team members are always offered a warm welcome and invited to join us in social activities shared lunches and there are regular opportunities to seek support for your work
• Schools Infrastructure is a rewarding team that supports individual growth
• This role may include some infrequent travel to schools and sites across the county and therefore there is a need to be flexible. As a team we have a shared calendar for sharing when we intend to work in the office.

Empowering Everyone

Were big believers in potential possibility and the power of different ideas. Were always searching for ways to encourage respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation as shown in ourWorkforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Sarah Finn (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling or emailing .

If you wish to apply for a secondment please read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word)

Step 1 -Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).

Step 2 -Click Apply Now to start your online application.

Step 3 -Upload asupporting statementanswering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use theSupporting Statement template.

1. Describe a time when you acted as a key point of contact for customers partners stakeholders or external organisations. How did you manage relationships respond to queries and ensure communication remained clear and effective
2. Tell us about a time when you used data research or technical information to support a recommendation decision or project. What information did you use how did you analyse it and what was the outcome
3. Give an example of a time when you identified a potential issue or risk within a project programme or piece of work. How did you work with others to find a solution and what was the outcome
4. Describe your experience of supporting strategic planning activities either within school place planning education infrastructure local government project delivery data analysis or a related field. Please explain your role the work you undertook how you used evidence or data to support decision-making and the impact of your contribution. If you do not have direct school place planning experience please tell us about relevant transferable skills and experience that would help you succeed in this role.

Step 4 -Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note:Without a supporting statement and CV your interest will not be supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application please seeourHow to Apply page.

We value authentic applications thatshowcaseyour genuine skills and experiences so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also readourUsing AI in Your Application and Interview guidanceto understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately your application may not be progressed.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to applyIf you are disabled and/or haveadditionalsupport needs you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team ator.You can find examples ofpossible adjustmentsonourReasonable Adjustment pages. Ifyoureinvited to the next stageyoullhave another chance to request adjustments.

Closing date:11.30pm 28 July 2026.

Interview date:6 August 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.