Project Officer – South East Smokefree Alliance

Are you passionate about preventing ill health and reducing health inequalities? If you thrive on bringing people and organisations together to deliver meaningful change, join our Public Health team and help shape a Smokefree South East. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death. We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised Project Officer to support the South East Smokefree Alliance, a regional partnership bringing together 18 local authorities and wider partners to reduce smoking and tackle health inequalities.   Working closely with the South East Smokefree Alliance Lead, you will provide project management and coordination support across an ambitious regional work programme. You will coordinate projects, meetings and events; support communications and stakeholder engagement; monitor delivery and performance; and help partners share learning and effective practice.  This is an opportunity to work across organisational boundaries and contribute to tobacco control initiatives that can make a difference to the health of communities across the South East. As part of East Sussex County Council's Public Health team, you will join a service committed to improving and protecting population health through evidence-based programmes, partnership working and innovation. The role will involve working with partners across local government, the NHS, national organisations and commissioned providers, and may involve occasional travel across the South East. We are looking for candidates who:   • Have excellent organisational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet agreed deadlines.  • Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and can communicate effectively with a range of audiences.  • Can build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.  • Have experience of supporting projects, programmes or partnerships involving multiple organisations.  • Can analyse and interpret information and prepare clear reports, briefings and other written materials.    Experience of working in public health, local government, the NHS or another partnership environment would be advantageous, although applications from candidates with relevant transferable experience are welcomed. Please download the job description and person specificatio [https://fa-euru-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/cs/groups/public/documents/document/ytew/njm3/~edisp/ucmfa10637498.docx]n for more information.   We warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community. We particularly encourage those from groups that are underrepresented in our current workforce: • people under 30 years of age • people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds • people who experience disability or neurodiversity We are working towards recruiting a workforce that reflects our community, because we recognise the value of diverse perspective and experiences.   Details about our building accessibility can be found on the Council’s corporate hub page. If you have any questions about the building accessibility for the building this role is based in, please contact the hiring manager.   To apply for this role, please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button above and upload your CV and a Supporting Statement. When writing your supporting statement be sure to address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education or personal interests. For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page and our statement on the use of AI. Interviews will take place in person at County Hall, Lewes, or via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 22 October 20 26. If you are unavailable on the date offered, let us know and we may be able to schedule an alternative date to interview you.   Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.     This is an opportunity to contribute to a high-profile regional public health programme and work with partners across the South East to achieve more together than could be achieved through local action alone. You will be part of a supportive and ambitious Public Health team, while gaining experience of working across a large-scale regional partnership and contributing to work that improves health and reduces inequalities.   We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.   Vocational Training through Apprenticeships is now available to our staff, ranging from entry level to degree level qualifications. You can talk to the hiring manager and the apprenticeship team about what qualifications would be relevant to you and this job role, and if it is possible to support you in apprenticeship training.   For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Sarah Milne, South East Smokefree Alliance Lead, at Sarah.milne@eastsussex.gov.uk to request a Microsoft Teams call or telephone call. For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex. Additional Information Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only. If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to Work in the UK • GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) [https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas]. If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.