Senior Project Support Officer

Do you have the leadership skills to guide project support teams and drive consistent, high‑quality delivery across complex portfolios?

Are you motivated by influencing senior decision‑making, coordinating multi‑project delivery, and embedding best practice to strengthen programme outcomes?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

We will support flexible working, full time, job share and part time working.

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 Senior Project Support Officer's to join our Central Portfolio Management Office and Borders and Trade Programme teams.

1 x Permanent

1 x 18 month Fixed term appointment.

You play a pivotal role in leading and coordinating project and programme support activities, acting as a key point of contact for project governance, reporting cycles and assurance arrangements to ensure consistency and quality across all initiatives. As a line manager, you guide and develop Project Support Officers, fostering strong performance and a high‑quality service for the projects and programmes they support.

Your expertise in delivery standards, tools and processes helps colleagues achieve strategic objectives, while your ability to manage upwards, through influencing senior leaders, escalating issues promptly and presenting clear, well‑reasoned options, strengthens decision‑making. Through collaboration and continuous improvement, you embed best practice, enhance programme and project management capability, and lead meaningful change through others.

(1 x Permanent)

This role sits within APHA’s CMPO, which coordinates standards, governance, reporting and assurance across the Projects and Change Portfolio. The CPMO provides independent support, constructive challenge and assurance to programme and project teams.

The Projects and Change Portfolio is a business‑critical function, responsible for delivering APHA’s Sustainable Futures Strategy alongside wider organisational transformation and change initiatives. Work within the portfolio is delivered through the Borders and Trade (B&T) Programme, Priority Policy (PP), the Digital & Operational Services (DOS) Programme and the Delivering Sustainable Futures (DSF) Programme.

As a Senior Project Support Officer based in CPMO, you will provide professional leadership and line management for Project Support Officers working across PP, DOS and DSF, contributing to the development and consistent application of standards and ways of working across the portfolio.

(1 x Fixed Term Appointment/Loan/Secondment for 18 months)

This role sits within APHA’s Borders and Trade Programme, which is preparing the organisation for changes arising from the UK and the EU’s commitment to pursue a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. The programme supports EU reset activity by delivering changes to systems, processes and ways of working as negotiations progress. You will work under the direction of the Senior PMO Lead to deliver work that enables the safe trade and movement of animals, plants and agrifood products, whilst upholding high standards of biosecurity and food safety.

Provide clear leadership across the PMO and project support community, setting direction, priorities and expectations. Drive high standards of delivery through role modelling professional behaviours and supporting teams to perform effectively in complex environments. Lead capability development through coaching and mentoring and support teams through change. Manage upwards with confidence, providing clear advice and escalating risks, issues and options to support effective decision‑making.

Lead defined activities which support the effective operation of governance and…