Housing Growth Lead

Fixed Term, Full Time

Up to £46,359 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 21st February 2021

Please note this is an 18 month fixed term contract.

About us

At Essex County Council we're already making plans to ensure our long-term economic recovery. We're taking this opportunity to create a greener, more productive, and fairer economy that is stronger and more resilient than ever before. Growing our economy means working with local businesses to help them take advantage of new market opportunities. It means attracting investment to improve digital outreach across the county, supporting hard hit businesses to recover economic prosperity, whilst encouraging their plans, as we drive investment into regeneration, and the development of new places.

Supporting the development of new homes stimulates jobs and economic growth at the same time as creating great places. We're busy laying the foundations for future sustainable growth. As our population grows, we'll need over 140,000 new homes in Essex in the decades ahead. Housing goes well beyond new homes in growing communities. It underpins ECC's strategic priorities to enable economic growth, support older people with care needs and other vulnerable groups to live independently, reduce health inequalities and create great places to grow up live and work. We see this as an opportunity to enhance the county, to build homes not houses, places not developments.

About the role

The Housing Growth team is a strategic unit in the County Council working in partnership with local housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers to facilitate new and better homes, Working as part of this small team, you'll approach our housing needs strategically, seeing projects through from ideas to delivery. Collaborating with a range of partners to access funding and investment, you'll broker key relationships across the Essex public and private sectors. You'll ensure we achieve the diversity, quantity, and quality of homes that we need to attract new businesses and residents, along with the infrastructure and amenities that make for successful communities.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

This role would suit someone with a solid background in planning, project management or partnership development who is ambitious to address the need for homes within a broader strategic context. Understanding the commercial aspects of development is an advantage. A strong track-record of delivering projects, budgeting, research and analysis, contract negotiation or partnership working would all be welcome. Excellent written and spoken communication skills are also key, as you'll need to convey complex information to a wide variety of different audiences via reports and presentations.

The contract and working arrangements

Please note this is an 18-month fixed term contract. This position will initially, in line with current government guidance be based from home, with an expectation of being home based for the foreseeable future. However, when government guidelines change the role may then revert to being office based, whilst retaining some flexible working options.

If you have any questions or would like more information about this role, please contact Christopher White

As part of employment with Essex County Council should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. For more information please use the following link: https://www.workingforessex.com/benefits/

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please email or call us on 0333 013 5888. Lines are open Monday to Friday 08:30 - 16.30.