Position: Project Support Officer
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Grade D £31,525 per annum
Location: Joint Headquarters
Hours: 37 hours per week, however you may occasionally need to work beyond normal office hours. Agile working arrangements can be discussed with the successful candidate.
Department: Strategy & Improvement
Reports to: SM Strategy & Improvement
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 08 November 2026
About Us:
At Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, we’re more than an emergency service - we’re a team of over 900 dedicated people working together to make Derbyshire safer every day. Whether it’s responding to emergencies, preventing incidents before they happen, or supporting our frontline teams behind the scenes, every role here makes a real difference.
We’re proud to be one of the country’s top-performing fire and rescue services, recently rated ‘Good’ in 9 out of 11 areas by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). This recognition reflects the professionalism, progress, and dedication of our people. We continue to strive to be an outstanding Service and we know we have more to do.
About the Role:
We're looking for a Project Support Officer to join our Strategy & Improvement team.
This is a varied and rewarding role at the centre of project delivery and organisational improvement across Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service. You'll support a diverse portfolio of projects and programmes, working with Project Leads, managers and stakeholders to help ensure projects are well-governed, effectively managed and deliver their intended benefits.
No two days are the same. One day you could be supporting the development of a new project, reviewing risks and project documentation, or preparing reports for senior leaders. The next, you may be facilitating Programme Board activity, coordinating stakeholder engagement, supporting project evaluations or analysing information to help inform strategic decision-making.
The role combines project support, governance, analysis, reporting and stakeholder engagement, offering the opportunity to work across a wide range of service areas and initiatives that contribute to making Derbyshire safer.
Key Responsibilities:
As a Project Support Officer, your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
• Supporting Project Leads and stakeholders with the planning, governance and delivery of projects and programmes of work.
• Facilitating Programme Board activity, including the coordination and quality assurance of project documentation, reporting and governance processes.
• Monitoring project progress, risks, issues, dependencies and benefits, providing information and analysis to support decision-making.
• Producing and maintaining project documentation, reports, management information and governance records throughout the project lifecycle.
• Supporting project engagement and communication activities with internal and external stakeholders.
• Working with Project Leads and managers to develop project scopes, plans and delivery approaches.
• Supporting the evaluation of completed projects to help identify outcomes, benefits and lessons learned.
• Collating and analysing information from multiple projects to provide a corporate overview of project performance, risks, resources and interdependencies.
• Promoting consistent project management standards, processes and good practice across the Service.
• Supporting wider Strategy & Improvement activities and organisational change initiatives where required.
There will be a requirement for some travel for which a pool car will be provided.
Please see the attached Job Description/Person Specification for more information about this exciting role.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
To be successful in this role, you will bring the following qualifications and experience:
• GCSE’s in English and Maths at grade A* - C or 9 – 4, or equivalent qualification / equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Appropriate project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2 Foundation level) or equivalent demonstrable experience.
What We Offer in Return:
We believe in rewarding our people with more than just a salary. Here’s what you can expect when you join us:
• Flexible working hours.
• Agile working by agreement
• Family friendly policies.
• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service.
• Free, secure on-site car parking.
• Health & wellbeing services, including free access to gyms at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service locations.
• Employee discount scheme (Boost) and eligibility to apply for Blue Light Card.
• Employee support networks.
• Enhanced maternity pay (subject to meeting eligibility criteria).
• Occupational sick pay subject to length of service, increasing up to 6 months’ full & 6 months’ half after 5 years’ service.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions.
• Eligibility to join Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) offering highly beneficial tax advantages. (Support and Control only)
How to Apply:
We are a Disability Confident employer committed to equality and fairness at work. Applications are encouraged from all diverse communities. Under the Disability Confident scheme, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of applicants with a disability that meet the essential criteria for the role.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment.
Police security vetting procedures at the appropriate level will be requested for the successful applicant. Please note that, due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.
The closing date for completed applications is midnight on Sunday 08 November 2026.
Interviews will be held in the week commencing 19 November 2026.
For an informal chat regarding the role please contact the recruiting manager Gary Bellfield on gbellfield@derbys-fire.gov.uk.
If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application form, please contact the Service Centre on 01773 305441.