Project Support Officer

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC624342
Salary Range: £33,178 – £36,369 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 12 July 2026
Interview Date: 29–30 July 2026
Early applications are encouraged, as we may close the advert ahead of the stated closing date.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Project Support Officer (Connect to Work) to join our Economy & Skills team at Hampshire County Council.

The Role:

Join Hampshire County Council and make a difference

Hampshire County Council’s Economy & Skills Team, part of the Universal Services Directorate, is looking for a talented Project Support Officer (Connect to Work) to join our dynamic and high-performing team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced professional with a background in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Provider Referral and Payment (PRaP) system to play a key role in delivering meaningful outcomes.

Working closely with the Connect to Work Development Manager, you’ll be at the heart of a vital programme that helps people access supported employment opportunities. Your contribution will be crucial in ensuring the smooth running and continued success of the Council’s Connect to Work initiative—making a real impact in the community.

If you’re organised, proactive, and passionate about supporting people into employment, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll do:

Connect to Work is a supported employment programme commissioned by the DWP to help people in England and Wales find and sustain employment. Supporting up to 100,000 people nationally, it is a key part of the Government’s Get Britain Working strategy to tackle economic inactivity.

The programme is aimed at people who are currently not working or who face barriers to employment, such as disabilities and health conditions. It also supports those who are employed but at risk of losing their job. Connect to Work integrates work, health, and skills support using the supported employment “place, train, and maintain” model to help people find and sustain employment.

In this role, you will process all Connect to Work programme administration, including the triage of referrals and use of the DWP PRaP system. This is the UK Government system used by the DWP and welfare-to-work providers to exchange participant information and track employment outcomes.

We are looking for applicants who meet the essential criteria and demonstrate a willingness to work across multiple aspects of contract implementation.

Further details are outlined in the Candidate Pack below.

What we’re looking for:

We are seeking a candidate with a working knowledge of the DWP PRaP system and a clear understanding of UK Government skills and employment policies.

The ideal applicant will:

• Have experience working collaboratively across teams and with external partners, including employers, the DWP, and public health organisations
• Demonstrate excellent organisational skills
• Be able to work flexibly and use their own initiative
• Contribute effectively within a team environment

The role requires experience in reading, interpreting, and implementing multiple pieces of guidance documentation, alongside maintaining and accurately inputting data into robust systems to process programme information.

Why join us?

Our benefits package includes details of holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family-friendly policies, interest-free travel loans, and discounts.
We offer a flexible, motivating, and inclusive workplace. We have created an environment you can look forward to being part of, where you are empowered to be your best, with a culture built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.

Hampshire County Council is a flexible employer that values your skills and offers a great work-life balance. We offer flexible working options and have invested heavily in technologies to support remote working.

This role can be carried out partly remotely; however, some office-based working and travel to sites across the county will be required to support business needs.

Additional Information:

Project Support Officer Candidate Pack 

Please attach a CV and supporting statement (maximum 750 words) to your application, outlining why you have applied and how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria for the role as outlined in the Candidate Pack. 

Vetting Requirements:

This post requires a Criminal Records Check. 

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Christopher Cunningham, Development Manager (Contracts) - Christopher.Cunningham@hants.gov.uk