Senior Wellbeing and Public Health Officer

Senior Wellbeing and Public Health Officer

Fixed Term, Full Time

£35,323 to £41,556 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date:6th October 2025

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Chelmsford 2-3 day per month, with the remaining time for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation’s needs

The Role

Essex County Council Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities (WPHC) Team are looking to recruit a full time, fixed-term candidate for the period of 1 year. The role will be tasked with:

• Supporting Senior members of the team as well as managers to effectively plan and deliver programmes of work in line with the Public Health Business Plan.
• Working with the wider WPHC team to support the monitoring and reporting on the WPHC Business Plan.
• Supporting the Director of Public Health to meet their statutory duties.
• Delivering specific projects and pieces of work to improve children and young people’s health and wellbeing, in particular our work on Healthy Schools, infant feeding and Risk Avert.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

The Opportunity

This role plays a very important part within Economy, Localities and Public Health (ELPH) and wider Essex County Council structures, to the Council’s aspiration to become an outcome focused and evidence based commissioning authority. 

This role will be responsible for the delivery of professional and expert support to the Wellbeing and Public Health work programme. Supporting stakeholders and to deliver a new, more flexible and collaborative approach will be an importance facet of the role. 

The role will support and may lead on a range of smaller projects and activities, as well as maintaining business as usual activity and supporting an agile approach to resourcing.  It will involve some complexity in working to support a number of specific agendas and support Senior Managers on any number and combination of thematic programmes and projects dependant on strategic priorities. 

Accountabilities

• Work as part of the Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Team supporting a flexible and agile approach to resourcing. 
• Work with a range of senior managers in Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities and, where necessary, from across ECC and with partners and stakeholders, to define requirements and deliver activity ensuring best VFM, and sustainable outcomes.  
• Provide day-to-day support as part of a matrix managed team for specific pieces of activity – both planned and reactive; for example writing reports or business cases or co-ordinating activities that deliver specific project documentation. 
• Provide subject matter expert advice and guidance as required for thematic programmes and projects which will change dependent on strategic priorities. 
• Support senior managers to ensure that prioritised activities can be planned, specified and met in terms of capacity and capability and delivered to a high standard.  
• Build relationships and work in collaboration (for example with, but not limited to, CCGs and District/Borough/City Councils) not only to deliver levels of integrated activity, but also to identify any further opportunities and efficiencies across organisations. 

• Deliver specific projects and activities that further the continuous improvement of high performing, sustainable and cost effective services or place shaping activities and develop cross functional links. 
• Support the development of, and use, a range of tools and techniques that ensure activity is consistent, effective and efficient and that an audit trail is maintained. 
• Respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities ensuring that risks and opportunities are identified and managed and comply with all external and internal regulation: support responses to calls for contributions to consultation responses. 
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent by experience, with excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional areas. 
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) in a Public Health or related activity service/function area, and programme/project management expertise, in support of senior managers. 
• Experience of managing or delivering commissioning activities or projects. 
• Knowledge and experience of all aspects of the commissioning cycle, project life-cycle and related activities gained within a commissioning environment.  
• Evidence of successfully delivering outcomes and demonstrating breadth of thinking. 
• Experience of delivery of public services and managing change in a complex , multi-stakeholder environment. 
• Experience of working in a political environment, working effectively with members and senior officers across the council and partner agencies. 

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 jamielea.wallis@essex.gov.uk

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