Employment and Careers Advisor

Essex

n/a - n/a

£32,701-£38,471

Chelmsford

Permanent

Economic Development

Role

Employment and Careers Advisor

Permanent, Full Time

£32,701 to £38,471 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

The Opportunity

Essex County Council is a systems leader for Skills and Growth, working with public and private sector partners to shape an inclusive and integrated approach to skills, business support and inward investment in the county.

The Employment and Careers Advisor plays a critical role in supporting residents of all ages to access impartial Careers Information Advice and Guidance (CIAG) through a range of platforms, including innovative digital technologies. This varied role directly supports Essex residents to make informed choices about their current and future career options whilst also requiring direct engagement with employers, education, and training providers to build effective partnerships which secure meaningful employment and careers opportunities for residents.

In addition to direct resident support, the postholder will also act as a specialist advisor to frontline Employment Advisors, helping them to identify and access funded skills and learning provision across Greater Essex. Given the breadth of existing funded provision, Employment Advisors cannot be expected to be familiar with every opportunity available. This role will ensure value for money by preventing duplication of training costs and guiding participants toward existing funded options that meet their bespoke needs.

Through support provided by the Employment and Careers Advisor residents will be more aware of and be confident in progressing into appropriate employment, education, training and vocational training opportunities, including apprenticeships, with Essex businesses able to access a pool of qualified, aspirational individuals to support the Sustainable Economic Growth.

To read more about our business area, please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

Accountabilities

Act as a point of contact for Employment Advisors seeking guidance on available funded training and skills provision across Greater Essex, ensuring tailored support packages are cost-effective and aligned with existing resources. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of funded learning and training opportunities and provide advice and signposting to both participants and staff, ensuring efficient use of resources and avoiding duplication of funding.

Responsible for assisting residents of all ages to overcome barriers to learning and employment through delivery of impartial careers information, advice and guidance (CIAG) that enables person-centred career planning, i.e. CV writing, job applications, interview techniques, delivery of group work sessions and presentations.
Oversee delivery of digital careers information, employment & skills brokerage to residents, business, and providers, including provision of training and support to increase understanding of and grow usage of these platforms.
Responsible for managing individual caseloads and maintaining accuracy of individual client records, in conjunction DfE and DWP guidance.
Responsible for brokering skills and training opportunities, between providers, businesses, and residents, including promotion of apprenticeships to enable them to engage in preparation for the world of work and search for employment opportunities.
Influence and negotiate the level and type of provision available, to meet business and resident needs, using subject matter expertise to identify and inform gaps in education and training provision identifying market failure and recommending interventions that increase the technical skills of the Essex workforce.
Working in collaboration with stakeholders including senior school-based staff, social care, SEND, Youth Offending, Housing and partner agencies, at senior management level, to provide support and create opportunities for residents in regard to training and employment. Collate and disseminate information in respect of current training opportunities, working closely with training providers.
Responsible for developing and delivering a series of county-wide large-scale recruitment events with businesses and residents.
Deliver ECC’s business account management approach and serve as a primary point of contact to build and maintain trusting relationships with businesses, industry representatives and partners.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

Possesses an IAG Qualification, Dip CG, QCG or (minimum NVQ 4) level preferably working towards level 6 LDSS, or equivalent by experience.
Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
Advanced communication skills and solution focused approach to identify and understand the needs of hard-to-reach young people and adults, with the ability to coach and instil confidence, resilience and life skills.
Proven track record of progressing residents into education, training and employment opportunities
A broad understanding of the issues affecting residents, opportunities for learning and the services provided by partner organisations. Maintains currency with labour market information and developments within education.
Ability to build working relationships with stakeholders and partner agencies which are collaborative and engender delivery.
Advocating on behalf of residents with providers and partner organisations with an ability to negotiate with schools, colleges, employers and other agencies.
Experience of analysing and interpreting data sets.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

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.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) 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 go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

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.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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