Assistant Project Sponsor

Assistant Project Sponsor

Permanent, Full Time

£34,607 to £40,714 Per Annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: Thursday 25th June

The Role

The Capital Investment and Delivery team will develop and deliver the capital programme for Essex County Council. The team will focus on developing opportunities for capital investment in order to secure financial returns to support the Council’s strategic priorities.   

The Opportunity

The Assistant Project Sponsor will support Project Sponsors to develop the overall strategy, direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of specific projects, within budget and according to strict deadlines.  Whilst ensuring consistency with business strategy, commitments and goals.  

This role offers an opportunity to develop a career path in project management.  In possession of a degree or relevant professional qualification, this role will assist Project Sponsors to manage key aspects of major projects/programmes whilst also taking on minor projects individually.  An ability to build good working relationships with stakeholders and contractors is essential to success. 

To read more about our business area, please visit: Policy, Economy, Investment and Property

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong background in energy surveying, with a working knowledge of energy consumption metrics, including kW usage and demand profiling. They will have proven experience in conducting energy efficiency and energy-saving surveys, identifying opportunities to reduce consumption and improve building performance.

The role requires familiarity with current government funding schemes and grant programmes that support energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives, and the ability to incorporate these into project planning and delivery. A practical understanding of energy management principles, data analysis, and reporting will be essential to support informed decision-making and drive sustainable outcomes.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for assessing requirements and outcomes for projects, translating them into realistic, measurable and structured project plans.
• Responsible for ensuring the project/programme adheres to Council policies and guidance and reflects best practice.
• Responsible for contributing to the development of strategies and plans to effectively manage stakeholder expectations. Ensuring successful delivery of quality project outcomes within agreed constraints, in support of function Business Plans.
• Manage stakeholder interests and priority, risks and costs associated with the projects, representing the Council at consultation and information events.
• Contributes to defining and agreeing the project scope with the Project Sponsor(s). Determining  key deliverables, managing the budget for schemes typically under £500k and delivering regular progress reports.
• Develop and deliver key project control documentation, ensuring compliance with agreed guidelines to enable audits to be carried out.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to deliver work streams and projects to agreed quality criteria and parameters.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.  

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject and/or alternative professional qualification (e.g. Project Management, Construction, Surveying, Architecture, Civil Engineering) or equivalent by experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development and developing knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Knowledge and understanding of project management methodologies e.g. Prince 2, or demonstration through experience.
• Knowledge of developing and maintaining an agreed project plan, including key milestones.
• Proven track record of assimilating complex information to inform effective decision making.
• Good communication skills with evidence of producing written reports and delivering presentations.
• Ability to build strong relationships and partnerships which encourage collaboration and engender delivery.

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 March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, 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.

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.

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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