Principal Economic Growth Officer - Policy

Principal Economic Growth Officer - Policy

Permanent, Full Time

£49,900 - £53,892 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 1st July 2024

In this role, you will influence the quality of business accommodation across Essex, by providing evidence and guidance to internal colleagues, Local Planning Authorities and scheme promoters.

Over the course of a week, you might:

• Represent the Council at a meeting with economic development officers from one of our 12 district, borough and city councils, to ensure that their emerging Economic Development Strategy responds positively to relevant spatial drivers and commercial property market dynamics
• Apply your understanding of the Town and Country Planning system to propose amendments to the draft employment chapter of an emerging Local Plan
• Utilise your analytical skills to bolster the case for a different mix of unit sizes and uses at a new business park than proposed by the developer, extracting relevant information from the Essex Business Accommodation Dashboard
• Work with our Planning team to draft the Council’s responses to two planning applications for major employment sites. Prioritise your inputs according to their potential impact on both the Essex economy and our Levelling Up Priority Places
• Employ your influencing skills to secure Section 106 obligations for an employment allocation at one of our four Garden Communities. Ensure that these developer contributions maximise economic development outcomes for residents and businesses
• Carry out initial planning appraisal for an opportunity being considered by our Essex Renewal Fund. Inform an appropriate balance of costs, benefits and risks for the Council
• Apply your knowledge and understanding of urban design to provide feedback on the draft masterplan for a proposed Innovation District. Ensure that the needs of business occupiers in our five key growth sectors are taken into account
• Brainstorm creative solutions to close a viability gap, responding positively to changing economic and property market conditions
• Share market intelligence with our inward investment colleagues, to facilitate the private sector investment required to turn today’s employment land allocations into tomorrow’s business accommodation
• Provide accurate and up-to-date information about the County’s business accommodation development pipeline, informing a business case being prepared for Cabinet Member approval

Essex is a county replete with untapped potential and this is an excellent opportunity to shape its economic growth, for the benefit of our residents and businesses.

Why Essex?

Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. To read more about us, please visit: Economy, Investment & Public Health

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. To find out more, please visit: Pay and Reward

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the ‘apply now’ button.

Successful applicants will be invited to an interview held on Microsoft Teams on Thursday 11th or Monday 15th July 2024, unless otherwise agreed.