Projects & Contracts Officer (2 posts)

Position reference: 50145311, 50145310 Directorate: Childrens Services | Service: Commissioning Teams

Salary : £35,412 - £38,220

Working Arrangements : Monday to Friday, including Agile working

Hours per week : 37

Contract type: Permanent

We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch .

See our range of Employee Rewards: Employee rewards and benefits

Closing date : 27/3/26 a t 23:59

This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check

If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email dbs@barnsley.gov.uk

When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be. We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.

There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent Commissioning team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities. We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people. Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen. If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it. We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development. There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities . Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About The Post

This is where contracts meet real life. We’re looking for a Projects and Contracts Officer who can turn ambition into delivery and strategy into services that genuinely improve the lives of children and young people. In Children’s Commissioning, the work matters. The specifications you write, the contracts you manage and the performance you monitor directly influence the quality and safety of services supporting vulnerable children . If you’re motivated by impact, this is your role.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Designing clear, outcome-focused service specifications
• Leading and supporting procurement and contracting processes end to end
• Negotiating and managing contracts with providers and partners
• Monitoring performance, compliance and risk
• Completing Quality Assurance audits, visits and reports
• Managing project finances and driving value for money
• Producing high-quality reports, KPIs and briefings for senior leaders
• Working across teams including finance and legal to resolve issues and deliver results

This is a fast-paced environment. You’ll need to be organised, confident and comfortable holding providers to account while maintaining strong professional relationships.

What we’re looking for

• You’ll Bring
• Experience of project management, including procurement and contract management
• Experience of performance monitoring and KPI reporting
• Knowledge of public sector procurement and contract management principles
• Knowledge of the principles of quality assurance and safeguarding
• Experience of budget monitoring and financial oversight
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, including working with senior stakeholders
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines
• A degree or relevant project/programme qualification is desirable .

Why join us?

You’ll be part of an ambitious Children’s Service committed to improving sufficiency, quality and outcomes. You’ll have the opportunity to shape services that support children in care, strengthen families and deliver measurable impact. This isn’t just contract management. It’s public service with purpose.

Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form.

Job Profile: Projects and Contracts Officer Profile.docx

Vacancy Exposure Profile: Exposure Profile.pdf

Help with your application form

Why work for us?

Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your application form how you meet the required criteria. We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities. We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know. CV's are not accepted for this role. At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances