Project Manager

Since April 2026, every local authority has had to deliver the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies Programme. As our Best Start Family Hubs Project Manager, you'll play a central role in making it work for Suffolk. The role is full time, for 18 months, as a fixed-term contract or a secondment, and you'll report to the Programme Lead for Best Start Family Hubs.

- Lead and deliver projects that put Suffolk's Best Start Family Hub approach into practice. This runs from the Best Start Local Plan and its delivery plans through to setting up and running the family hubs.

- Work with partners across the Strategic Alliance, including health, education and early years, to turn national policy into local services that improve outcomes for babies, children and families.

- Make sure the work joins up with the Families First Partnership Programme and help develop and launch Suffolk's Early Help Strategy.

- Use data, insight and evidence to measure outcomes and show the impact of Best Start services.

- Manage project plans, risks, dependencies, governance, grant budgets and reporting, and write clear briefings for senior stakeholders and governance boards.

- Run workshops and consultations with families and professionals, so their views shape how services are designed and delivered.

This is a hands-on, fast-moving role. You'll need to balance planned programme deliverables with flexible support as new priorities come up. If you know Suffolk's children's services and how they connect, that will help you get things moving quickly.

What makes our ideal worker: https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/Other-Docs/The-Ideal-Worker.pdf

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the 'How to apply' section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The CYPS Programmes team at Suffolk County Council is a dynamic group of dedicated professionals who deliver essential social care and inclusion services while driving organisational change and improvement. Working at the forefront of children and young people's services, the team consistently adapts to evolving needs and proactively responds to national reforms with creativity and resilience. They foster an environment where innovation thrives, empowering team members to develop solutions that make a meaningful difference in young lives across Suffolk.

This role is part of the team's growing portfolio of reform programmes. It works alongside the Families First Partnership Programme to support the national rollout of Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies across Suffolk., Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

1. Describe a project you managed from start to finish that turned a national policy, new requirement or strategic priority into local delivery, using data and evidence to improve outcomes for children, young people or families. How did you measure the impact, and what was the result?

2. Tell us about a time you identified and managed risks or dependencies across linked projects or programmes, for example where two pieces of work had to line up to succeed. Include a decision you made within your own area of responsibility rather than escalating it. What did you do and why?

3. Give an example of influencing or motivating colleagues or partners across different teams, services or organisations to keep a project on track, where you didn't have direct authority over them. How did you approach this, and what was the outcome?

Please note: Without the requested supporting documents, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, at Suffolk County Council we're driven to make a positive difference to the environment, the communities we serve and the careers of our people. That's why, when you join us as a Children and Young people's services (CYPS) & Best Start Family Hubs Project Manager, you'll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days

membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits

performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase

training and encouragement to expand your knowledge

a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation

diverse and active staff networks

flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!