Opportunity Sheffield is the employment and skills service within Sheffield City Council (SCC). We commission, deliver and oversee activities to support people into jobs, training and career development, and work to strengthen the local economy by helping employers attract, nurture and retain talent.

Our programmes are aimed at breaking down barriers to employment, particularly for those furthest from the labour market, while helping alleviate poverty and boost economic growth through skills enhancement.

Opportunity Sheffield’s employment support activity is delivered as part of regional programmes delivered in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)

Sheffield City Council (SCC) has been successful in securing funding to deliver employment support projects. Pathways to Work, which has a heavy focus on supporting Economically Inactive people into work, these employment support projects will include contracts to support targeted groups, individuals with specialist health requirements and economically inactive/socially excluded individuals.

We are looking to recruit a Senior Project Officer / Contract Manager to join the Opportunity Sheffield team (SCC’s Employment and Skills service) and carry out duties of contract managing employment support projects, acting as a critical friend and adviser to the employment support project providers from the Voluntary Community Sector. This role is a fixed term position and will end on the 31^st March 2027.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, flexible, and forward-thinking member of staff who can support and manage the delivery of employment support projects.

The individual will be expected to have knowledge and understanding of externally funded programmes, the employment support sector, the Voluntary Community Sector and will carry out contract management of Opportunity Sheffield employment support project contract providers. This will include:

Monitoring provider activity and progress against set targets outputs and outcomes, and any key performance indicators as agreed on contract award
Arranging and holding monthly contract monitoring meetings with Opportunity Sheffield’s employment project contract providers
Ensuring EIT/LGF and SCC contractual compliance is always maintained to the highest standard
Acting as a ‘critical friend’ to Opportunity Sheffield contract providers offering both support and advice to ensure effective project delivery
Building and maintaining positive relationships with contract providers, as well as a range of external stakeholders
Using Enspirio information systems effectively in accordance with the requirements of the Pathways to Work contract delivery, for which training will be provided
Assisting in the preparation and production of the management information and project returns
Assisting in facilitating regular briefing sessions for Opportunity Sheffield contract providers as organised by Opportunity Sheffield
Contributing to and taking part in organising and running Sheffield Employability Network (The Teacake Club) meetings, as well as sourcing relevant employability news to contribute to the Teacake Club newsletter
Assisting in future procurement of tenders advertised by Opportunity Sheffield
Carrying out other duties, to be agreed upon with line manager

The closing date for applications is 11^th May 2026 with an intended start date of June 2026

If you have any questions, please contact John Powell (Partnership Manager) on john.powell@sheffield.gov.uk or 0114 2296168

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our Sheff news page.