Project Officer – 2 Year Secondment

Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is a tight-knit family of 31 schools - 8 secondary and 23 primaries - working together across the Southwest. We are ambitious for every child and committed to delivering excellence through collaboration, innovation, and shared values. 

We are seeking an exceptional Project Officer who will support the Building Surveyor in the delivery of a comprehensive, high quality, solutions focused estates and projects service across our family of schools. This is a fantastic opportunity for an Project Officer professional to shape safe, efficient, and inspiring environments that enable outstanding teaching and learning.

Working across multiple schools, you will bring project management, professional expertise to ensure our estate is compliant, well‑maintained, and aligned with the Trust’s values and long‑term aims.

About This Role

The Trust Project Officer plays a crucial strategic role in ensuring that all schools within Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) provide safe, efficient and inspiring environments for pupils, staff and visitors. Working across multiple sites, you will support eh building surveyor in the development of an Asset Management Plan as well as deliver various capital projects, spanning compliance, planned and reactive maintenance, and continuous improvement.

You’ll also be a key professional influence within the Estates team, supporting school-based staff, partnering with Headteachers, and ensuring that the estate is aligned with WeST's long-term vision, values and operational priorities. This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, leadership and making a visible impact across an expanding Trust.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone who is:

• A confident professional working as a key member of the multi-disciplinary Estates team while modelling WeST’s values of Compassion, Aspiration, Integrity and Collaboration. 
• Experienced in Project Management Estates Management, ideally within a school or multi-site environment.
• Have a working understanding of project management such as developing a feasibility, design, planning, procurement,  operational delivery, commissioning and handover. With knowledge of statutory requirements, safety standards, and asset management. 
• Highly organised and solution-focused, able to balance day‑to‑day operations with long-term planning. 
•  An excellent communicator, confident building relationships with Headteachers, senior leaders, contractors and Trust colleagues. 
• IT‑confident, with strong skills across Microsoft applications and digital estate management systems.
• Committed to continuous improvement, sustainability, safety and high‑quality customer service.
• Flexible and mobile, able to travel between Trust sites as required.  

Whilst the indicative working pattern is full time, all year round, we are happy to discuss flexible working.

Please note that this vacancy may close early if we identify and appoint a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Equal Opportunities

In fulfilling its aims and objectives, Westcountry Schools Trust actively seeks to achieve equality of opportunity and treatment for all members of the trust community.

We will continuously strive to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Each person in our trust will be given fair and equal opportunities to develop their full potential regardless of their gender, ethnicity, cultural and religious background, sexuality, disability or special educational needs and ability. The trust works actively to promote equality and foster positive attitudes. WeST is committed to combatting all forms of discrimination by implementing positive policies and practices in compliance with the Equality Act 2010.

Procedures

All appointments are subject to pre-employment checks. That means:

• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A copy of our Child Protection Policy & Safeguarding Policy is attached.
• Your identity will be confirmed by sight of original, official documents such as a Birth Certificate, Passport etc. in line with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.       
• Original documents relating to all the qualifications you have listed on your application form must be supplied. 
• Your employment history will be thoroughly examined and clarification will be sought where there are gaps or other discrepancies arising from information provided either by you as the candidate or your referee.
• References will be used to check dates of employment and your relevant experience. A minimum of two written references will be taken up and these references will be requested before the interview.
• References should cover the last 3-5 years’ work history, as a minimum. 
• An online search of shortlisted candidates will be conducted in accordance with Part Three ‘Safer Recruitment’ of Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. 
• The identity of referees and information relating to disclosures will be verified.
• You will be required to provide details of any relevant unspent or spent convictions in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986.
• An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be requested. Please note that it is an offence to apply, offer or accept to do any work with children (paid or unpaid) if disqualified from working with children. Applicants will be challenged where inconsistencies exist. Please be aware that a firm offer of appointment will only be made after receipt and verification of all satisfactory checks. Westcountry Schools Trust will carry out these checks and should you fail these checks, our offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Further details about the Trust can be found on our website (www.westst.org.uk) and on My New Term (https://mynewterm.com/trust/Westcountry-Schools-Trust/142688)