Project Support Officer – Oxford to Cambridge Arc Team - 23033

The Oxford to Cambridge Arc Team offers unique opportunities to test and trial innovative new approaches to enable green growth, investment, and environmental improvement.
The Project Support Officer will focus on supporting the Programme Director, the delivery of key projects including the Integrated Water Management Framework project, and the needs of the wider team.

Key tasks include:
•Working with partners to organise meetings, webinars, and workshop, drafting agendas to support our team priorities and needs
•Taking minutes, allocating and tracking associated actions
•Working to support the Project Manager, or leading on, maintaining effective project management documentation, including risk, issue, and stakeholder databases, complying with procurement and commercial requirements, and meeting regular project reporting requirements.
•Undertaking research, following-up stakeholder and project leads, analysing information, and reporting on or scoping new project ideas
•Supporting wider communication and engagement activities with local partners and stakeholders, by building, owning and sustaining relationships
•Confidently supporting the Programme Director to arrange meetings with high profile stakeholders, prepare briefing notes, and coordinate timely responses to requests
•Working with our health, safety, and wellbeing lead to deliver team training, ensuring the team are up to date with requirements, authorisations, and actions
•Other data and administration tasks as required

Our team works with colleagues from across the four operational areas within the Arc, our national teams, Defra Group colleagues, and local stakeholders. We share skills and learning, working to maximise opportunities to test and trial new approaches, tools, and mechanisms to change the way that growth, our natural capital assets, and resources are planned for and protected for future generations to support realisation of 25 Year Environment Plan goals within the OxCam Arc.

We are looking for a proactive and motivated self-starter, with a flexible attitude. You will need to be organised and thrive in a fast changing environment.
The key skills and/or experience we require are:
•Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including briefings, drawing out key messages, and preparing presentations
•Experience of positively and confidently engaging with internal and external partners of a senior level, building and sustaining relationships, and anticipating the needs of stakeholders
•Experience of working in a project environment with an understanding of basic project management processes or equivalent organisational experience
•The ability to prioritise workload and adapt to tight and changeable deadlines
•Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
•Must be able to work autonomously to make decisions and achieve outcomes while retaining an awareness of the needs and aspirations of the wider team
•Organisational awareness of the wider Defra Group and its delivery bodies

The role is office based, however as a dispersed team location is flexible. Our work occurs primarily virtually, so regular homeworking is available. Travel to London, our offices and other venues within the OxCam Arc will be required.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share.

For any questions relating to this role please contact: katherine.dalton@environment-agency.gov.uk

Has full awareness of own strengths, weaknesses, impact, and approach. Effectively organises self and takes personal responsibility for own role in the Environment Agency.

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results

Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.