Programme Officer (Temp 6-9 months) TLNT1_NI in Belfast

The Company

Our client is a highly respected public sector organisation responsible for managing and delivering large-scale funding programmes that support economic, social, and community development initiatives across the region. This is an excellent opportunity to join a collaborative and professional organisation committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Programme Officer to join a busy and dynamic team responsible for the assessment, implementation, monitoring, and management of funded projects. The successful candidate will support the full project life cycle, from application assessment and funding recommendations through to project monitoring, financial oversight, stakeholder engagement, and project closure. This role would suit an individual with strong analytical, project management, and report-writing skills who enjoys working with complex information and building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess project applications using both financial and non-financial information.
• Analyse risks and prepare comprehensive assessment reports and funding recommendations.
• Support capacity checks, state aid assessments, and economic appraisal processes where required.
• Contribute to moderation and quality assurance processes to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Present findings and recommendations to steering groups and decision-making committees.
• Manage a portfolio of funded projects, monitoring progress against agreed objectives and outputs.
• Draft project contracts, reports, and programme documentation.
• Conduct project monitoring visits and verify project outputs and expenditure.
• Investigate and resolve project queries, issues, and complaints in a timely manner.
• Support project implementation, closure activities, and compliance requirements.
• Review and assess financial information to ensure value for money and compliance.
• Implement and maintain robust financial control and monitoring systems.
• Ensure audit compliance and adherence to programme regulations and procedures.
• Support the verification of project expenditure and outputs.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with project promoters, public sector bodies, community organisations, and business stakeholders.
• Provide advice and guidance to applicants and funded projects.
• Represent the organisation at meetings, events, seminars, and stakeholder forums.
• Develop and maintain networks across relevant sectors.
• Prepare reports, briefing papers, governance papers, and committee documentation.
• Support the preparation of updates for senior management and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies including GDPR and records management requirements.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of programme procedures and guidance.

The Person

Essential Criteria

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics.
• Experience contributing to operational planning within the public, private, voluntary, or community sectors.
• Experience drafting reports and presenting information clearly and accurately.
• Experience working with, interpreting, and analysing financial data.
• Experience reviewing non-financial information and taking appropriate follow-up actions.
• Strong IT skills, including experience using spreadsheets, databases, and financial systems.
• Experience in project or programme management, including monitoring and verification of outputs.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel to project sites as required.

Desirable Criteria

• Third-level qualification.
• Experience managing publicly funded programmes or grant-funded projects.
• Experience operating and maintaining databases.
• Extensive programme or project management experience.
• Formal project management qualification.
• Experience working within a regulated or public sector environment.